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.

 

This VIS image was taken at the boundary of Elysium Planitia (to the north) and Lacus Planum (to the south). The southern part of the image is topographically higher than the plains to the north. At this boundary the highland surface is undergoing erosion. Arcuate fractures are seen in the bottom part of the image, some of which are bounding tilted blocks of material. It is possible that a volatile rich subsurface layer has been changed by erosion/exposure, causing the upperlying surface to fracture and collapse.