HiRISE | Strange Mesas in Noachis Terra (ESP_086811

NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

Strange Mesas in Noachis Terra
ESP_086811_1615 Science Theme:

This image shows several mesa-like features in the Noachis Terra region of Mars. A mesa is a steep-sided, flat-topped mountain or hill. While the larger features in this image are elevated areas of land surrounded by cliffs, the smaller “mesas” seem to be saucer-shaped in that the interiors of the mesas are at a lower elevation than the surrounding cliffs.

The saucer-like shape of these features is unusual and begs the question of how they formed, and it’s not apparent from this single image. The HiRISE team plans to acquire a second picture to provide stereo coverage, from which we can create a 3D digital elevation model. This elevation model may help us figure out how these strange mesas formed.

Written by: Chris Okubo (26 May 2025)

Acquisition date
01 February 2025

Local Mars time
14:59

Latitude (centered)
-18.107°

Longitude (East)
6.901°

Spacecraft altitude
260.9 km (162.1 miles)

Original image scale range
from 26.1 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) to 52.2 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning)

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel and North is up

Map projection
Equirectangular

Emission angle
1.8°

Phase angle
56.9°

Solar incidence angle
56°, with the Sun about 34° above the horizon

Solar longitude
38.4°, Northern Spring

For non-map projected images
North azimuth: 97°
Sub-solar azimuth: 40.2°

JPEG
Black and white
map projected  non-map

IRB color
map projected  non-map

Merged IRB
map projected

Merged RGB
map projected

RGB color
non-map projected

JP2
Black and white
map-projected   (573MB)

IRB color
map-projected   (464MB)

JP2 EXTRAS
Black and white
map-projected (270MB)
non-map           (433MB)

IRB color
map projected (152MB)
non-map           (387MB)

Merged IRB
map projected (178MB)

Merged RGB
map-projected (166MB)

RGB color
non map           (384MB)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
B&W label
Color label
Merged IRB label
Merged RGB label
EDR products
HiView

NB
IRB: infrared-red-blue
RGB: red-green-blue
About color products (PDF)

Black & white is 5 km across; enhanced color about 1 km
For scale, use JPEG/JP2 black & white map-projected images

USAGE POLICY
All of the images produced by HiRISE and accessible on this site are within the public domain: there are no restrictions on their usage by anyone in the public, including news or science organizations. We do ask for a credit line where possible:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

POSTSCRIPT
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.