HiRISE images for March 31, 2010

The following new captioned images based on HighWish suggestions taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft are now available:

• Icy Layers and Climate Fluctuations at the Martian North Pole
  Sometimes icy layers can be ablated away during warm climates. Later the ice sheet can be buried by new ice layers and grow in size again; it's likely that many of these cycles have occurred over the ice sheet's history.
• Lobate Debris Apron in Deuteronilus Mensae
  This observation is located in the Deuteronilus Mensae region along the highland/lowland dichotomy boundary in the Northern hemisphere of Mars.
• Dust-Mantled Topography Near Zephyria Tholus
  This image covers some high-standing topography just outside the rim of an approximately 30 kilometer diameter impact crater.
• Deposits on the Floor of Palos Crater
  This image shows a portion of the floor in Palos Crater. The floor appears bumpy with high-standing layered knobs.
• Samara Valles
  Samara Valles is one of the longest ancient valley systems on Mars. This system traverses over 1000 kilometers towards the northwest across the heavily cratered Southern highlands eroding into the gentle slopes of Terra Meridiani.
• Collapsing Volcano
  This image covers the northern edge of the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons. The margin of Olympus Mons is defined by a massive, tall cliff.
• Mesas in Aureum Chaos
  This image reveals the meter-scale surface textures of mesas and knobs in the Aureum Chaos region of Mars.
• Boulder Strewn Plain in Northern Utopia Planitia
  Common to the northern plains of Mars are rock and boulder strewn landscapes otherwise devoid of major features, short of a few impact craters.