Flyover of the southeast Ceti Mensa map. Distinct groups of rock layers, called geologic units, are shaded in different colors, with dark browns representing the oldest rocks and green representing the youngest rocks. All of these rocks formed as wind-blown sand that became trapped in shallow, ephemeral lakes, similar to the wet playas of the desert southwest US.
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New USGS Maps of Mars Reveal Ancient Oases
Flyover of the southeast Ceti Mensa map. Distinct groups of rock layers, called geologic units, are shaded in different colors, with dark browns representing the oldest rocks and green representing the youngest rocks. All of these rocks formed as wind-blown sand that became trapped in shallow, ephemeral lakes, similar to the wet playas of the desert southwest US.
First Global Topographic Map of Mercury
An animation of the USGS topographic map of Mercury created using images from NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft.
An animation of the USGS topographic map of Mercury created using images from NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft.