NASA Orbiter Reveals New Details Of Mars, Young And Old
The high-resolution camera, the imaging spectrometer and the orbiter's wider-looking Context Camera all observed Mawrth Vallis. Details visible in the new observations, such as small channels, are consistent with past wet conditions, McEwen said.
Another observation of an unnamed southern crater shows relatively young gullies, like those seen in many Mars locations viewed by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter. Braided channels characteristic of sediment-rich streams are visible in the new observations. This reinforces the interpretation that these geologically young gullies formed at least in part from erosion by flowing water. Original discovery of the many geologically young gullies on Martian slopes was by Dr. Michael Malin of Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
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Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Erica Hupp 202-358-1237
NASA Headquarters, Washington
NEWS RELEASE: 2006-131
Source: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/newsroom/pressreleases/20061016a.html.
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