Investigating Mars: Moreux Crater

This image of Moreux Crater shows part of the central peak at the top of the frame, deposits of material from the crater rim at the bottom of the frame and sand dunes on the crater floor between the two. The part of the peak with a pitted surface texture has been interpreted to be created by glacial flows, as has the deposits seen near the crater rim with the linear and pitted surface morphology. Moreux Crater is located in northern Arabia Terra and has a diameter of 138 kilometers.

The Odyssey spacecraft has spent over 15 years in orbit around Mars, circling the planet more than 69000 times. It holds the record for longest working spacecraft at Mars. THEMIS, the IR/VIS camera system, has collected data for the entire mission and provides images covering all seasons and lighting conditions. Over the years many features of interest have received repeated imaging, building up a suite of images covering the entire feature. From the deepest chasma to the tallest volcano, individual dunes inside craters and dune fields that encircle the north pole, channels carved by water and lava, and a variety of other feature, THEMIS has imaged them all. For the next several months the image of the day will focus on the Tharsis volcanoes, the various chasmata of Valles Marineris, and the major dunes fields. We hope you enjoy these images!