Pits and Cracks
Some places in the Ismenius Lacus quadrangle display large numbers of cracks and pits. It is widely believed that these are the result of ground ice sublimating (changing directly from a solid to a gas). After the ice leaves, the ground collapses in the shape of pits and cracks. The pits may come first. When enough pits form, they unite to form cracks.
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Coloe Fossae Pits, as seen by HiRISE. Pits are believed to result from escaping water.
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CTX Image in Protonilus Mensae, showing location of next image.
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Pits in Protonilus Mensae, as seen by HiRISE, under the HiWish program.
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Close-up of pits, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. Resolution is about 30 cm, so one could see a kitchen table if it were in the picture.
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Close-up of patterned ground in a crater deposit, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. Resolution is about 30 cm, so one could see a kitchen table if it were in the picture.
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Close-up of pits forming along the edges of polygons in patterned ground, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. Resolution is about 30 cm, so one could see a kitchen table if it were in the picture.
Read more about this topic: Ismenius Lacus Quadrangle
Famous quotes containing the words pits and/or cracks:
“And the glory of character is in affronting the horrors of depravity to draw thence new nobilities of power: as Art lives and thrills in new use and combining of contrasts, and mining into the dark evermore for blacker pits of night.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)