
This image NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows an impact crater that was cut by lava in the Elysium Planitia region of Mars. It looks relatively flat, with a shallow floor, rough surface texture, and possible cooling cracks seem to indicate that the crater was partially filled with lava. The northern part of the image also shows a more extensive lava flow deposit that surrounds the impact ejecta of the largest impact crater in the image. Which way did the lava flow? It might appear that the lava flowed from the north through the channel into the partially filled crater. However, if you look at the anaglyph with your red and blue 3D glasses, it becomes clear that the partially filled crater sits on top of the large crater's ejecta blanket, making it higher than the lava flow to the north. Since lava does not flow uphill, that means the explanation isn't so simple. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA18887
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NASA ID
PIA18887
Date Created
October 29, 2014
Center
JPL
Media Type
image
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Medium
960px