26 martian pits

Best space images

“Mars’ southern hemisphere paints an unusual picture”

Nasa’s mars Reconnaissance orbiter (mRo) arrived at the Red planet on 10 march 2006 with the sole purpose of searching for water on mars. this question has frustrated scientists for years, as mars appears to show signs of previously existing surface water, but no current signs. it is thought that there once was a respectable atmosphere on mars, one that could protect and preserve the surface, until the atmosphere dwindled away. the runaway effect caused the martian atmosphere to virtually disappear, and thus began an era of heavy bombardment from the sun’s harmful radiation. this radiation has left the surface essentially uninhabitable and caused all its water to evaporate, but that doesn’t stop scientists from searching.

the search continues with the mRo imaging the surface constantly with its High Resolution imaging science experiment (HiRise) camera. mRo’s snapshot of mars’ southern hemisphere paints an unusual picture, one that resembles a type of cheese. the silver material creating this outlandish terrain is carbon dioxide ice. the larger depression in the corner of the picture penetrates through this ice and dust, but astronomers do not fully understand its perceived origin. the thoughts are that this is either an impact crater or a collapsed pit. either way, it makes for a pleasing picture.