HiPOD: A Volcanic Fissure

Although Mars is known for having the largest volcano in our Solar System, Olympus Mons, we also find small-scale volcanic features on its surface.

This fissure, less than 500 meters across at its widest point, lies in the Tharsis region and is believed to be a vent from which lava flowed in ancient eruptions.

The total volume of lava released from this fissure is much less than what would erupt from nearby volcanoes, but the mark left on the landscape is dramatic nonetheless. (Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across.)

ID: ESP_019391_1960 date: 15 September 2010 altitude: 274 km

HiPOD: Defrosting Dunes

This image shows a field a sand dunes in the Martian springtime while the seasonal carbon dioxide frost is sublimating into the air. This sublimation process is not at all uniform, instead creating a pattern of dark spots.

In addition, the inter-dune areas are also striking, with bright frost persisting in the troughs of polygons. Our enhanced-color cutout is centered on a brownish-colored inter-dune area. (Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km across.)

ID: ESP_082672_1180 date: 16 March 2024 altitude: 252 km

HiPOD: Knobs and Valleys in Acidalia Planitia

This image features mounds and hummocky/fretted terrain of similar formation as those in far eastern Acidalia Planitia, but are not common on Mars, and may be the edge of an ancient basin. An additional rationale for this observation is to create a gigapixel mosaic of this area, which has received sparse coverage so far. (Image cutout is less than 5 km across.)

ID: ESP_075248_2215 date: 15 August 2022 altitude: 298 km