Mars in 3-D

There are few things more beautiful to me than rocks and landscapes. I am not sure why. It may have something to do with my appreciation for fractal shapes and reoccurring patterns across multiple scales. To truly appreciate the picture in this story, you must have 3-D glasses. This picture is of the Claritas Fossae tectonic region on Mars, southeast of the Tharsis volcano group (of which the highest volcano in the known solar system, Olympus Mons, is a member). The picture was taken by ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft. There are several craters and great walls that appear to have material from erosion slumping down the sides, or so it seems to this geology novice. I’m sure there is a better explanation somewhere. I look forward to someday revisting this and other images on a huge wallscreen, and I can’t wait to see them through the eyes of a trained planetary scientist.