Splotches and Channels Near Sisyphi Montes

Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona, Posted on: Thursday, 7 February 2008, 07:19 CST Download full size image

This image shows high latitude terrain near the Sisyphi Montes. Patterned ground is everywhere throughout the scene, and there are several muted craters that have relaxed over time due to the presence of ground ice.

Dark splotches are also common. Using full HiRISE resolution, the dark splotches exist around boulders. It is possible that the boulders are ejecta from the freshest crater in the scene, the small crater near the top of the image. They could also be from another impact crater not in this image or be a result of a periglacial stone sorting process that leaves the large boulders isolated.

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