Auqakuh Vallis Channel

After the Odyssey spacecraft had completed a full Mars year of observations of the red planet Image of the Day looked back over this first mars year. Focus was on four themes: 1) the poles - with the seasonal changes seen in the retreatand expansion of the caps; 2) craters - with a variety of morphologies relating to impact materials and later alteration, both infilling and exhumation; 3) channels - the clues to liquid surface flow; and 4) volcanic flow features. While some images have helped answer questions about the history of Mars, many have raised new questions that are still being investigated as Odyssey continues collecting data as it orbits Mars.
The channel shown on the image is part of Auqakuh Vallis. The channel floor contains both sand dunes and a textural pattern that may indicate volitiles, such as ice, may be present. Layering is easily seen on the cliff face at the bottom of the image.