This observation shows an incredible diversity of ancient lava tubes and impact craters filled with sediment on the flank of Arsia Mons.

The rationale for this observation is to get a better look at those lava tubes; their shapes, morphology, and erosional degradation, which ultimately might help to date active period when lava flowed through the volcano. We will also be able to see in high resolution an erosional “snapshot” of the collapsed lava tubes and how they have been modified by dust falling from the air, mass-wasting, and impacts over time.

Written by: HiRISE Science Team   (22 May 2014)

This is a stereo pair with ESP_030876_1790 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_031944_1790

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona