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Article Images
Lava flows in Daedalia Planum
 
9 October 2009

Daedalia Planum
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 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1476 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 66 977 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/pixel.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum context map
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 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 645 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 4056 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/pixel.

Credits: FU Berlin/MOLA
 
 
Daedalia Planum in perspective
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1431 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 44 692 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum in perspective
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1307 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 40 565 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum in perspective
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1622 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 37 987 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum ortho-image
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1721 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 84 370 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

This ortho-image was rectified using elevation data derived from a high-resolution Digital Terrain Model, or DTM (obtained from HRSC data), such that distortions introduced during imaging are corrected. Such an image can be used to derive maps. Elevation data from the DTM has been colour-coded and overlain on the ortho-image so that elevation data and the image itself are displayed in a single scene.

The scale is in metres.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum nadir view
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1940 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 25 065 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum annotated nadir image
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 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1942 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 24 957 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

The map shows two lava flows (1): the younger flow (upper portion visible in nadir images) exhibits flow structures, pressure ridges as well as the central lava channel (upper right corner). An older flow visible in the lower portion has a smoother surface owing to gradual accumulation of sediments.

Two striking depressions lying almost at right angles to the lava flow are also visible in the upper portion of the imaged region (2 and 3). These structures are related to grabens that existed earlier (grabens are depressional features formed by faults in the crust).

It is likely that the lava flows invaded the grabens partially or filled them up completely. Where a graben was only partially filled, the original dimensions are still recognisable.

In the upper left of the nadir image is a portion of this feature that remains unmodified by the younger lava flows.

Existing impact craters have also been transformed by the lava flows. The two larger craters show different stages of modification (visible in the 3D image). The largest crater (bottom) was not affected by the lava flow but the ejecta blanket formed during the impact is partially covered in lava.

The second largest crater has been flooded almost entirely, although minor portions of the rim are still preserved. It is likely that the lava entered through a breach in the rim, filling it up. Fully covered impact craters, whose outlines are still visible, are also known as ghost craters. One such ghost crater is located in the immediate vicinity of the second largest impact crater.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
Daedalia Planum in 3D
Download:
 HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1417 kb)  HI-RES TIFF (Size: 45 833 kb)
Daedalia Planum is a sparsely cratered, untextured plain that lies to the south-east of Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars. It is 350 km in diameter and rises 14 km. The plain is dominated by numerous lava flows of varying ages.

The images are centred at 21°S/ 243°E. They cover about 150 x 75 km or 11 250 sq km, an area roughly the size of Jamaica, and have a ground resolution of about 17m/ pixel.

The map shows two lava flows: the younger flow (upper portion visible in nadir images) exhibits flow structures, pressure ridges as well as the central lava channel (upper right corner). An older flow visible in the lower portion has a smoother surface owing to gradual accumulation of sediments.

Two striking depressions lying at right angles to the lava flow are also visible in the upper portion of the imaged region. These structures are related to grabens that existed earlier (grabens are depressional features formed by faults in the crust).

It is likely that the lava flows invaded the grabens partially or filled them up completely. Where a graben was only partially filled, the original dimensions are still recognisable.

In the upper left of the nadir image is a portion of this feature that remains unmodified by the younger lava flows. Existing impact craters have also been transformed by the lava flows. The two larger craters show different stages of modification (visible in the 3D image). The largest crater (bottom) was not affected by the lava flow but the ejecta blanket formed during the impact is partially covered in lava.

The second largest crater has been flooded almost entirely, although minor portions of the rim are still preserved. It is likely that the lava entered through a breach in the rim, filling it up. Fully covered impact craters, whose outlines are still visible, are also known as ghost craters. One such ghost crater is located in the immediate vicinity of the second largest impact crater.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
 
 
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