Today's Image

Possible Mars landing site in 2018

Mawrth Vallis, one of four candidate landing sites under consideration for the ExoMars 2018 mission.  Landing ellipses under evaluation are indicated.  They cover an area of 170 x 19 km.  Image via ESA/DLR/FU Berlin & NASA MGS MOLA Science Team
Mawrth Vallis, one of four candidate landing sites under consideration for the ExoMars 2018 mission. The landing ellipses under evaluation for this site selection are indicated, and cover an area of 170 x 19 kilometers (105 X 12 miles). The orientation of the landing ellipse depends on when the launch takes place within a given launch window. All candidates landing sites for this mission have to be compliant with launch opportunities in both 2018 and 2020, as indicated. Image via ESA/DLR/FU Berlin & NASA MGS MOLA Science Team

Say hello to Mawrth Vallis on Mars. Mawrth means Mars in Welsh, and Vallis just means valley. This region on Mars is an ancient channel, thought by most Mars scientists to have been carved by outburst floods in Mars’ past. It’s one of four candidate landing sites under consideration for the ExoMars 2018 mission.

Mawrth Vallis is one of the oldest outflow channels on Mars, at least 3.8 billion years old. It hosts large exposures of finely layered clay-rich rocks, a strong indication that water did once play a role here.

The image above combines images from ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft with topography data from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor.

Read more about candidates landing sites for ExoMars 2018 mission

Space scientists have selected four possible landing sites for the ExoMars 2018 mission.  Read more.
Space scientists have selected four possible landing sites for the ExoMars 2018 mission. Read more.

Bottom line: Mawrth Vallis is an ancient outflow channel on Mars and one of four candidate landing sites under consideration for the ExoMars 2018 mission.

Posted 
October 2, 2014
 in 
Today's Image

Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Deborah Byrd

View All