Image Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

Context image credit: NASA/JPL/MOLA
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Detailed information on this image is available at the THEMIS Data Releases website.

 

Please see the THEMIS Data Citation Note for details on crediting THEMIS images.

 

The craters shown in this Themis image were formed due to the impact of meteorites on Mars' surface. The ballistically formed ejecta blankets immediately surrounding the impact craters are composed of quickly cooled dust particles, thus showing up dark in color in this night time IR image. The brighter portion of this image is composed of a more rocky material which was slower to cool. Notice the crater rays, streaks of ejected material extending radially beyond the crater's rims. This image was originally released as part of the THEMIS Art series, for it's flower-like appearance.