Cerberus Fossae

Cerberus Fossae are a group of fissures or cracks in the Elysium quadrangle. They were created by faults which pulling the crust apart. These fossae are 1235 km across with a center at 11.28 °N and 166.37 °E.^[1] This region on Mars is a dark area in the Northern hemisphere. Its name comes from Greek mythology where it was known as the “hound of Hades." According to this Greek myth Cerberus was the multi-headed dog who guarded the gates of the Underworld. He stopped the dead from leaving.^[2] A popular saying is a "sop to Cerberus" meaning a bribe. This was from the ancient Greek and Roman custom of leaving gifts with corpses so that Cerberus would pass them by. The origin of this praise is the Aeneid. In the story, Sibyl leading Aeneas to the underworld threw a drugged cake to Cerberus. Aeneas was then able to pass by Cerberus.^[3]

Cerberus Fossae is the site of a plume, like the plume under Hawaii, according to researchers at the University of Arizona. Evidence of the plume includes Marsquakes, a rise of a mile above the surroundings, crater floors tilted away from the rise, and slight variations in the gravity field showing that the uplift is supported from deep within the planet. The plume has affected an area almost the area of the continental United States. Cerberus Fossae is in Elysium Planitia, a site of the youngest known volcanic eruption on Mars. That eruption produced a small explosion of volcanic ash around 53,000 years ago--a short time in geology. The discovery of a plume increases the chance of life. Heat from the plume could melt ground ice; consequently, allowing chemical reactions that could sustain life.^[4] ^[5] ^[6] The uplift caused by this plume stretched the crust, cracking it to form Cerberus Fossae. To agree with the data, this plume would have to be warmer than its surroundings by 95 to 285 degrees Celsius (171 to 513 degrees Fahrenheit).^[7] The researchers believe that this mantle plume formed about 930 miles (1,500 km) below the surface--between the core of Mars and the mantle layer, and under the crust.^[8]

Cerberus is dark area to left of center

Troughs of Cerberus Fossae that sit to the east of Albor Tholus HiRISE images only have a color strip in the center. Marquakes detected by InSight are originating in places like this.