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05.11.2010
HRSC Press Release #480 - Phoenicis Lacus (orbit 8417)
Perspektive [1] |
On 31 July 2010 the High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC), under the leadership of the Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Gerhard Neukum of Freie Universitaet Berlin, onboard the ESA spacecraft Mars Express obtained image data in orbit 8417 with a ground resolution of approximately 17 meters per pixel. The data were acquired in the region Phoenicis Lacus at approximately 13° southern latitude and 249° eastern longitude. The region has an approx. area of 8100 km² (59.5 km × 136 km) which corresponds to the size of the Galapagos Islands.
Komplexe Störungszone in Phoenicis Lacus, Zentral-Tharsis
Complex fracturing in the Phoenicis Lacus region, Central Tharsis
Kontextkarte [2] |
Phoenicis Lacus ("Sea of the Phoenix") describes a region with distinct albedo properties. Even today, the albedo is an important recognition feature on planetary surfaces. Dark or rough surfaces reflect less sunlight than bright or plane surfaces. Conducting planetary exploration, the differences of regions with small (dark) to high (bright) albedo values are rapidly recognized and the specific regions are named (see HRSC Press Release #463).
Farbkodiertes Höhenmodell [3] |
The Phoenicis Lacus Region comprises the southwestern extension of the complex Noctis Labyrinthus graben system (see HRSC Press Release #351). The development is associated with the updoming of the Tharsis bulge. The region is located within the west-oriented fault zone and displays accurate constriction structures. Multiple fault generations with different orientations can be detected. The furrowed surface is an evidence for the complexity of the volcanism and the associated tectonics on Mars. The strong, episodic and long-lasting volcanic activity in the Tharsis region did not only contribute to the uplift of large areas in the region, but also to the construction of extensive fault systems.
Lagekarte der beschriebenen geologischen Strukturen [4] |
A prominent collapse feature can be observed in the upper part of the picture [box 1]. The figure shows a longitudinal pit with a depth of about 3000 m below the surrounding terrain and was created by the collapse of some specific areas within the fault. This outcrop allows a glimpse on the extensive basalt layers in the canyon wall. A small field of transverse sand dunes covers the floor of the structure.
Nadiraufnahme [5] |
The anaglyph shows blocks in the central fault zone [box 2]. The block in the center of the picture is particularly peculiar. The rhombohedral form emerged from the close-to-perpendicular orientation of the faults. Intense extension in this region formed the characteristic horst-and-graben landscape.
RGB Farbbild [6] |
An impact-structure can be seen in the lower part of the image [box 3]. The crater was elongated during the spreading of the graben and evolved from a circular to an ellipsoidal form. It has to be mentioned, that the largest bowl-shaped structures in this image do not represent impact craters but collapse structures. The latter do not show distinct rims like impact craters.
Rot-Cyan Anaglyphe [7] |
The colour scenes have been derived from the three HRSC-colour channels and the nadir channel. The perspective views have been calculated from the digital terrain model derived from the stereo channels. The anaglyph image was calculated from the nadir and one stereo channel. The black and white high resolution images were derived form the nadir channel which provides the highest detail of all channels.
Perspektive #2 [8] |
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) experiment on the ESA Mars Express Mission is led by the Principal Investigator (PI) Prof. Dr. Gerhard Neukum who also designed the camera technically. The science team of the experiment consists of 40 Co-Investigators from 33 institutions and 10 nations. The camera was developed at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) under the leadership of the PI G. Neukum and built in cooperation with industrial partners (EADS Astrium, Lewicki Microelectronic GmbH and Jena-Optronik GmbH). The experiment on Mars Express is operated by the DLR Institute of Planetary Research, through ESA/ESOC. The systematic processing of the HRSC image data is carried out at DLR. The scenes shown here were created by the PI-group at the Institute for Geological Sciences of the Freie Universitaet Berlin in cooperation with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin.
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hochaufgelöste Bilddaten / high resolution image data
Kontextkarte [2]: |
Farbkodiertes Höhenmodell [3]: |
Lagekarte der beschriebenen geologischen Strukturen [4]: |
Nadiraufnahme [5]: |
RGB Farbbild [6]: |
Rot-Cyan Anaglyphe [7]: |
Perspektive [1]: |
Perspektive #2 [8]: |
© Copyright: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)