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POSTCARD: Mars is the pits
4 Apr 2009
This image shows a collapse pit (the dark circle) in the Tractus Fossae region on Mars, an area of large ridges and troughs created by tectonic activity.
Pits like this form by collapse into underground voids, such as those left by magma-filled dikes. They may sometimes have overhanging walls, although in this case the walls can be seen and appear nearly vertical. Some similar features are found on Earth—Devil's Throat, in Hawaii, is one example. Other similar examples have been seen on Mars as well.
The pit in this image has very steep walls, and so only a narrow arc is illuminated by sunlight. The rest of the pit is in dark shadow. However, a contrast-adjusted version of the image (below) shows details of the pit floor, thanks to a small amount of scattered sunlight.
A contrast-adjusted view of the interior of the collapse pit, showing the pit's floor.
Adapted from information issued by NASA / JPL / University of Arizona.
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