The beauty of Mars from 150 miles

Article written by Jim Secosky. Jim is a retired science teacher who has used the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Global Surveyor, and HiRISE.

This article will show some beautiful scenes of Mars from about 150 miles above the surface. The pictures were taken by High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) that orbits Mars. the colors are from a central strip in each of the images. The colors are processed to bring out more information about the minerals on the surface. They are not exactly what we would see with just our eyes. Some incorporate an infrared band which humans can't see.

The pictures are a labor of love for Jim Secosky. He started suggesting places for NASA to observe in 2010 through the HiWish program. Anyone can suggest places through that program. However, one often has to wait months or years for the pictures to be taken, processed, and released. The satellite mostly just takes pictures of what it passes over; hence, you may have to wait until it passes over something you suggested.

The collections of pictures here will not include much geology. If you wants to find out more, you can go to the references or links to other articles in Marspedia. Some talks are also listed that Jim gave for the Mars Society.

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                            Collage of pictures taken with HiRISE under HiWish program

Image shows the variety of different kinds of brain terrain on Mars. Brain terrain is called that because it resembles the surface of the human brain. It is thought to form when ice leaves the ground along cracks.

                                   Different kinds of impact craters on Mars.

Image shows dust devil tracks on Mars. Mars has many dust devils. When a dust devil passes, it removes the thin coating of bright dust. One then sees the dark undersurface.

          Image shows the variety of channels on Mars. In the past Mars once had many streams and rivers.

Glaciers on Mars. Some have ice; some have lost most of their ice. The ice was able to be preserved for long periods because it had a layer of dirt and rocks on top.

Sand dunes on Mars. The colored ones are from a colored strip in the center of each HiRISE image. To our eyes all of these would probably appear black. However, NASA images are able to be processed to bring out slight differences. Dunes are made of the black volcanic rock basalt. Basalt does not always have the same exact composition. Slight amounts of certain elements can yield slightly different colors.

Image shows the variety of mud volcanoes on Mars. The mud comes up from a distance such that organisms could have lived in the mud. On the surface living things were die from the radiation. The colored ones are from a colored strip in the center of each HiRISE image.

Ridges on Mars. Ridges sometimes form shapes at nearly right angles. We do not know the exact cause, but a popular idea is that minerals were deposited in cracks. Later, erosion removed the soft material around them. There is some evidence that clays are near them. That's important because clays need water to form. Hence, they may be markers of past water. The colored ones are from a colored strip in the center of each HiRISE image.

Streamlined forms on Mars. Great floods formed these. Nearness to volcanic features or maybe an impact may have released water from the frozen ground. The colored ones are from a colored strip in the center of each HiRISE image.

gullies on Mars. Gullies from on steep slopes. Today, they seem to be produced with the action of dry ice; in the past liquid water may have been involved. The colored ones are from a colored strip in the center of each HiRISE image.