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The probe Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) of the European Space Agency (ESA) has captured this panorama on Mars of a vast cavity in Utopia Planitia, the largest impact basin in the world. Solar system, with 3,000 kilometers.
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Scientists know the region for displaying intriguing ice-related features above and below the surface, including surface frost during the Martian winter.
When TGO flew about 400 kilometers above the crater (centered at 98.74°E, 34.37°N), nearly filled the entire field of view of its most sophisticated color camera, CaSSIS (Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System).
This remnant of an ancient impact is only one of the many scars that asteroids have inflicted on the red planet. Water, volcanoes and asteroid impacts shaped the Martian surface in the ancient past. Mars is currently a cold, dry desert.
This view from CaSSIS shows a crater about eight kilometers long with material ejected in a way that scientists believe suggests the presence of water ice. When the asteroid hit this region of Mars, the water ice melted and a mixture of liquid water and rock dust was propelled from the upper layers, the ESA reports.
The crater’s smooth appearance is consistent with other features in the region that have evidence of a water ice history. As you approach the crater, it is possible to see streaks on the crater walls, showing evidence of landslides, and wind-sculpted waves.
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For six years, CaSSIS has been observing Mars in astonishing colors, from volcanic landscapes and colossal sand dunes to active dust devils. Understanding the history of water on Mars and whether it ever allowed life to arise is at the heart of ESA’s ExoMars missions.
TGO’s full science mission began in 2018. The spacecraft not only provides spectacular images, but also provides the best-ever inventory of the planet’s atmospheric gases, as well as mapping the surface for water-rich locations.
