At the end of the Martian highlands is the Nilosyrtis region. Here, the highlands break up into isolated peaks and mesas in a transition zone scientists call the crustal dichotomy. In some places, sedimentary layers contain water-altered clay minerals. These may preserve traces of ancient life, and is one of the reasons scientists keep it on a list of potential landing sites for future rover spacecraft.

ID: ESP_069640_2095
date: 4 June 2021
altitude: 286 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_069640_2095
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
#Mars #science #NASA