Scaled Image

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

About this image

Today's VIS image shows the southern cliffside of Tithonium Chasma (top of image) and the complete cross section of Ius Chasma (center of image). Ius Chasma and Thithonium Chasma are at the western end of Valles Marineris. Valles Marineris is over 4000 kilometers long, wider than the United States. Tithonium Chasma is 803 kilometers long (499 miles) while Ius Chasma is almost 850 kilometers long (528 miles), 120 kilometers wide and over 8 kilometers deep. In comparison, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is about 175 kilometers long, 30 kilometers wide, and only 2 kilometers deep. The canyons of Valles Marineris were formed by extensive fracturing and pulling apart of the crust during the uplift of the vast Tharsis plateau. Landslides have enlarged the canyon walls and created deposits on the canyon floor. Weathering of the surface and influx of dust and sand have modified the canyon floor, both creating and modifying layered materials. There are many features that indicate flowing and standing water played a part in the chasma formation. The rugged floor of Ius Chasma in this image is the result of many large landslides.

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

Context

Image ID: 
V89711010 (View data in Mars Image Explorer)
-6.50729
272.316
89711
2022-03-06 02:35
Mon, 2022-06-27
VIS
256 pixels (18 km)
3792 pixels (266 km)
0.070387 km/pixel
0.0709864 km/pixel

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