A Mars Express image shows wind-carved yardangs and old impact craters on Amazonis Mensa, with some craters partly filled by lava from about three billion years ago.
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01Summary
- 01The image was taken by the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft.
- 02It shows Amazonis Mensa, a large, flat mountain on Mars.
- 03Several ancient impact craters are visible, and some were partly filled by lava around three billion years ago.
- 04Yardangs on the left and right sides of the image were formed as loose sand was blown by wind.
- 05ESA says the two groups of yardangs ripple in different directions because Amazonis Mensa acts as a windbreak.
02Why it matters
The image helps scientists see how wind and lava have shaped Mars over long periods of geological time. It also shows how orbital spacecraft can reveal surface features that help explain the planet's history.
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