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Multimedia

Welcome to the Astrogeology Multimedia Gallery. Browse here for some of our available imagery, educational videos, and audios. We may get permission to use some non-USGS images and these should be marked and are subject to copyright laws. USGS Astrogeology images can be freely downloaded.

Images

Oblique view of Curiosity rover's traverse, with inset images showing where outliers were identified in ChemCam data
Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to Find Outliers in Curiosity Rover's ChemCam Data
Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to Find Outliers in Curiosity Rover's ChemCam Data
Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to Find Outliers in Curiosity Rover's ChemCam Data

Oblique view of Gale crater, Mars, annotated with the Curiosity rover's traverse. Inset images show targets identified as outliers in ChemCam data using a machine learning algorithm developed by REU student Liberty Mallison.

Oblique view of Gale crater, Mars, annotated with the Curiosity rover's traverse. Inset images show targets identified as outliers in ChemCam data using a machine learning algorithm developed by REU student Liberty Mallison.

Image of the Mars surface from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 4251
Mars Curiosity Rover image on sol 4251
Mars Curiosity Rover image on sol 4251
Mars Curiosity Rover image on sol 4251

This image was taken by the NASA Mars curiosity rover on sol 4251 by the front hazcam.

This image was taken by the NASA Mars curiosity rover on sol 4251 by the front hazcam.

A comparison of the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 traverses. The Apollo 17 traverse covers a notably larger area.
Comparison of Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 traverses
Comparison of Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 traverses
Comparison of Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 traverses

The Apollo 11 Traverses (left) did not travel more than ~1/10th of a mile from the LEM. The Apollo 17 Traverses (base image), on the other hand, traveled 22.2 miles in Grover. This map illustrates the difference in scale between the two missions. Photo Credit: NASA/GFSC/ASU, USGS Astrogeology

The Apollo 11 Traverses (left) did not travel more than ~1/10th of a mile from the LEM. The Apollo 17 Traverses (base image), on the other hand, traveled 22.2 miles in Grover. This map illustrates the difference in scale between the two missions. Photo Credit: NASA/GFSC/ASU, USGS Astrogeology

Example of nested map scales using USGS IMAP 800
Example of nested mapping scales at the Apollo 17 landing site
Example of nested mapping scales at the Apollo 17 landing site
Example of nested mapping scales at the Apollo 17 landing site

The nested quality of USGS IMAP 800 is exemplified in this image. The inset of the 1:50K (smaller area, larger scale) landing site map is outlined on the 1:250K (larger area, smaller scale) map of the Taurus Littrow area. Photo Credit: USGS Astrogeology

The nested quality of USGS IMAP 800 is exemplified in this image. The inset of the 1:50K (smaller area, larger scale) landing site map is outlined on the 1:250K (larger area, smaller scale) map of the Taurus Littrow area. Photo Credit: USGS Astrogeology

Grayscale image of the Gruithuisen domes features on the Moon
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Mosaic of Gruithuisen Domes
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Mosaic of Gruithuisen Domes
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Mosaic of Gruithuisen Domes

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) mosaic of the Gruithuisen (pronounced “groot-high-sen”) domes on the Moon. These unusual high-silica volcanic features are the target of the NASA Lunar Vulkan Imaging Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE) mission. USGS scientist Kristen Bennett is a member of the Lunar-VISE science team.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) mosaic of the Gruithuisen (pronounced “groot-high-sen”) domes on the Moon. These unusual high-silica volcanic features are the target of the NASA Lunar Vulkan Imaging Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE) mission. USGS scientist Kristen Bennett is a member of the Lunar-VISE science team.

Satellite view of the explosive eruption of Hunga Tonga volcano
Hunga Tonga Volcano Ash Plume
Hunga Tonga Volcano Ash Plume
Hunga Tonga Volcano Ash Plume

GOES-West image of the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in 2022. The explosion atmospheric pressure waves that traveled around the world. Read more here.

GOES-West image of the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in 2022. The explosion atmospheric pressure waves that traveled around the world. Read more here.

Videos

Demo showing how to create unit polygons using the PGM toolbox Creating and editing Geologic Units using the PGM Toolbox
Creating and editing Geologic Units using the PGM Toolbox
Creating and editing Geologic Units using the PGM Toolbox

In this demonstration video, you will learn how to create and update geologic unit polygons using the PGM Toolbox Build Polygons tool. The PGM toolbox is online.

In this demonstration video, you will learn how to create and update geologic unit polygons using the PGM Toolbox Build Polygons tool. The PGM toolbox is online.

Thumbnail image for a video showing a computer simulation of two planets colliding and merging. Two planets merging by giant impact
Two planets merging by giant impact
Two planets merging by giant impact

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a giant impact that results in a merger (accretion). The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target. The planets are colliding at 1.08 times their mutual escape velocity, which equates to 3.63 km/s.

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a giant impact that results in a merger (accretion). The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target. The planets are colliding at 1.08 times their mutual escape velocity, which equates to 3.63 km/s.

Thumbnail image for a video showing a computer simulation of two planets colliding but not merging. Two planets undergoing a hit-and-run impact
Two planets undergoing a hit-and-run impact
Two planets undergoing a hit-and-run impact

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a hit-and-run giant impact. This style of collision comprises around half of the giant impacts expected to occur during the latter stages of Solar System formation. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a hit-and-run giant impact. This style of collision comprises around half of the giant impacts expected to occur during the latter stages of Solar System formation. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Thumbnail image for a video showing a computer simulation of two planets colliding and being disrupted. The disruption of two planets in a giant impact
The disruption of two planets in a giant impact
The disruption of two planets in a giant impact

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a disruptive giant impact. Disruptive collisions are not expected to be common in Solar System formation and due to numerical effects, the amount of disruption shown here is likely overestimated. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Computer simulation of two planets undergoing a disruptive giant impact. Disruptive collisions are not expected to be common in Solar System formation and due to numerical effects, the amount of disruption shown here is likely overestimated. The larger (target) body is one tenth the mass of the Earth and the smaller (impactor) body is 70% the mass of the target.

Simulated view of Valles Marineris, Mars showing areas with CTX topography Flying Over Valles Marineris, Mars with Analysis-Ready Data
Flying Over Valles Marineris, Mars with Analysis-Ready Data
Flying Over Valles Marineris, Mars with Analysis-Ready Data

Flyover of Valles Marineris, the "Grand Canyon" of Mars, highlighting two analysis-ready datasets provided by USGS. The canyon is more than 4,000 km (2,500 miles) long and up to 7 km (23,000 ft) deep.

Flyover of Valles Marineris, the "Grand Canyon" of Mars, highlighting two analysis-ready datasets provided by USGS. The canyon is more than 4,000 km (2,500 miles) long and up to 7 km (23,000 ft) deep.

Demo: Creating custom projections in ArcGIS Pro Demo: Creating custom projections in ArcGIS Pro
Demo: Creating custom projections in ArcGIS Pro
Demo: Creating custom projections in ArcGIS Pro

In this demo, you will learn how to create a custom projection in ArcGIS Pro, using data that is not located on Earth. For this example, we will use the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Wide Angle Camera (WAC) mosaic of the Moon, and create custom polar and equatorial projections.

In this demo, you will learn how to create a custom projection in ArcGIS Pro, using data that is not located on Earth. For this example, we will use the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Wide Angle Camera (WAC) mosaic of the Moon, and create custom polar and equatorial projections.

Audio

a curvy ridge of loose rocks and gravel sit in the foreground with a glacier in the background
A simple esker in Iceland
A simple esker in Iceland
Terrestrial Analog - Meet Lauren
Terrestrial Analog - Meet Lauren
a curvy ridge of loose rocks and gravel sit in the foreground with a glacier in the background
A simple esker in Iceland
A simple esker in Iceland
Terrestrial Analog - Meet Lauren

I'm Lauren Edgar. I'm a research geologist at the USGS astrogeology Science Center here in Flagstaff AZ

a curvy ridge of loose rocks and gravel sit in the foreground with a glacier in the background
A simple esker in Iceland
A simple esker in Iceland

I'm Lauren Edgar. I'm a research geologist at the USGS astrogeology Science Center here in Flagstaff AZ

a curvy ridge of loose rocks and gravel sit in the foreground with a glacier in the background
A simple esker in Iceland
A simple esker in Iceland
Terrestrial Analog - Meet Kristen
Terrestrial Analog - Meet Kristen
a curvy ridge of loose rocks and gravel sit in the foreground with a glacier in the background
A simple esker in Iceland
A simple esker in Iceland
Terrestrial Analog - Meet Kristen

My name is Kristen Bennett. I'm at the Astrogeology Science Center and I've been there since 2018.

My name is Kristen Bennett. I'm at the Astrogeology Science Center and I've been there since 2018.

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