A crater near Sirenum Fossae on Mars. © NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
A crater near Sirenum Fossae on Mars is highlighted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
In an image released on June 3, 2015, the orbiter captured a detailed view of a relatively young crater. It has a sharp rim and clear ejecta surrounding it. The crater’s steep inner slopes show gullies and may contain recurring slope lineae, dark streaks that sometimes appear on slopes facing the equator. Scientists continue to watch this crater to see how it changes over time.
For two decades, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been searching for signs of past water on Mars using its advanced instruments. During that time, it has returned valuable data that will help scientists prepare for future astronauts who may one day land and explore the planet.
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