Avalanche on Mars: Scientific American Gallery

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Avalanche on Mars

March 4, 2008 | 5

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Nanotubes Make it Big

You might have noticed that for all researchers' fascination with the Martian landscape, it doesn't exactly do much in most photos. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken care of that. A single image taken in mid-February has captured no less than four avalanches in progress near the Red Planet's north pole. In the example shown here (in false color), a mass of fine dust and ice, possibly with bigger rocks mixed in, has broken off from a steep cliff over 2,300 feet (700 meters) high and sloping up to 60 degrees or more. The avalanche is traced by a cloud of fine material 590 feet (180 meters) across and extending 630 feet (190 meters) from the base of the cliff; a shadow beside the dust confirms that it extends into the volume above. NASA says the likely source of the spilled material is the uppermost, broken rock face (reddish) lying just below the mass of carbon dioxide frost (white) lining the scarp, which may have triggered the collapse as it melted. The agency notes that detailed measurements of the avalanches may reveal how quickly ice is eroding from the cliff and the exact proportion of ice and dust in the cloud.

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1. bigbender_mike 12:25 AM 3/5/08

As someone that really likes to look at pictures of planets and stars, I have a great idea for you morons...If you give an option to "ENLARGE IMAGE" the perhaps you should give your viewing public A BIGGER PICTURE. Not just the same sized picture in a bigger frame.
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2. alphachapmtl 07:43 AM 3/5/08

Want to see More/Better ?
Go there:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/gallery/press/20080303a.html
http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/nea.php
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3. rddandy 05:45 AM 3/6/08

The enlargement is the same size! make any cents? lol
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4. Hugh Jones 05:59 AM 3/12/08

If anyone is still interested, Astronomy.com has a nice enlargement of this same shot. It's really fascinating on any number of levels. No slam intended, they just came up with a better picture.
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5. Hugh Jones 05:45 PM 3/12/08

I see this picture is now "making the rounds". I could easily see it as a 4' x 4' print on someones office wall. (with all appropriate credits of course !) It cultivates the imagination, Ray Bradbury would no doubt approve.
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