Eroded Martian Landform

Image Title: Eroded Martian Landform
Release Date: December 4, 2005
Source: Mars Global Surveyor

Description

With billions of years to work with, wind and sand can certainly produce provocative patterns of erosion. For eons, wind has been the major driver of surface modification on Mars. As a frozen desert planet, the rains that have done so much to alter the face of the Earth have not had a similar opportunity on Mars. I must say that I find this martian landform far more intriguing than the "Face on Mars".

The numerous dark hair-like features that criss-cross the image are the trails left by numerous Martian dust devils.

Update July 21, 2007

This image was selected by NASA for inclusion in its "Mars As Art" exhibit. The NASA "Mars As Art" exhibit features just 45 images of Mars taken by planetary missions from Viking to the Mars Exploration Rovers. For additional information, see NASA "Mars as Art" Exhibit Includes "Eroded Martian Landform" Image

Source Image Background

The source image was acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor Narrow Angle Camera in January 2002. The location of this feature is approximately 69° south latitude, 208° west latitude in the Mare Australe quadrangle. At the time it was mid-summer in the southern hemisphere of Mars.

Image Processing

All processing of this image was done with Adobe Photoshop. False coloring was applied using a technique developed by the artist.

Downloads

I have created a low resolution, compressed version of "Eroded Martian Landform" for use as a desktop wallpaper. This wallpaper is made available for your personal use only. It is not to be modified or redistributed in any form by any means. All rights are retained by the artist.

Eroded Martian Landform, 1280 X 1024 Wallpaper Image by Jim Plaxco