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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Analyzing Ascraeus Mons

Analyzing Ascraeus Mons
Analyzing Ascraeus Mons A swath across the great mountain, Ascraeus Mons, as seen by the Mars Odyssey orbiter. The caldera of the extinct volcano is visible near the center. On the flanks, collapse pits where underground lava tubes have collapsed. This is a "decorrelation stretch image," which includes four panels showing the same part of the Martian surface. In each panel, the differences between views captured through different camera filters has been intentionally maximized in order to highlight the variations in surface composition. These are obviously not the colors you'd see with your eyes, but help Mars scientists explore the landscape. NASA/JPL/ASU