The HiRISE and Context Camera instruments onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have discovered over 700 recent impact sites on Mars. Some of these sites contain crater clusters where multiple craters are concentrated in a single region.

These clusters are thought to have formed when an incoming impactor fragmented in the Martian atmosphere, with the resulting debris creating newer craters in close proximity. Investigating these recently formed crater clusters provides valuable insights into the atmospheric fragmentation processes and the characteristics of the impacting bodies.

Our HiRISE image shows one such site where several meter-sized craters were formed between 2009 and 2011. The craters also contain very distinctive dark blast zones, suggesting the removal or disturbance of surface material. The arcing patterns around the crater indicate an oblique impact angle, with the bolide likely coming from the southwest.

Written by: Vidhya Ganesh Rangarajan  (16 June 2026)