Eroded Cratered Highlands

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-472, 3 September 2003

This August 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows the remains of two former meteor impact craters in northeastern Arabia Terra. The circular mesa toward the northeast (upper left) corner of the image was once a crater that became filled with material. Later, erosion stripped away the surrounding terrain, but left the filled crater behind as a mesa. The larger circular feature in this image is the eroded remains of another meteor crater; its rims and ejecta have been eroded away, and its north/northwest (left/upper left) rim has been completely removed. The processes that have eroded terrain in northeastern Arabia are unknown, but probably, at least, involved deflation by wind. This picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is located near 26.9°N, 301.6°W. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left.