La mappa geologica di Marte

Questa è la più dettagliata mappa geologica di Marte mai realizzata; frutto del lavoro degli scienziati dello United States Geological Survey, basato sui dati raccolti a partire dagli anni '70 con le sonde Viking.

This global geologic map of Mars, which records the distribution of geologic units and landforms on the planet’s surface through time, is based on unprecedented variety, quality, and quantity of remotely sensed data acquired since the Viking Orbiters. These data have provided morphologic, topographic, spectral, thermophysical, radar sounding, and other observations for integration, analysis, and interpretation in support of geologic mapping. In particular, the precise topographic mapping now available has enabled consistent morphologic portrayal of the surface for global mapping (whereas previously used visual-range image bases were less effective, because they combined morphologic and albedo information and, locally, atmospheric haze).