Astronomy Picture of the Day - Collapse in Hebes Chasma on Mars

NASA ^ | 15 Jul, 2025 | Image Credit & License: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: What's happened in Hebes Chasma on Mars? Hebes Chasma is a depression just north of the enormous Valles Marineris canyon. Since the depression is unconnected to other surface features, it is unclear where the internal material went. Inside Hebes Chasma is Hebes Mensa, a 5 kilometer high mesa that appears to have undergone an unusual partial collapse -- a collapse that might be providing clues. The featured image, taken by ESA's robotic Mars Express spacecraft currently orbiting Mars, shows great details of the chasm and the unusual horseshoe shaped indentation in the central mesa. Material from the mesa appears to have flowed onto the floor of the chasm, while a possible dark layer appears to have pooled like ink on a downslope landing. One hypothesis holds that salty rock composes some lower layers in Hebes Chasma, with the salt dissolving in melted ice flows that drained through holes into an underground aquifer.

[StAnDeliver]

Dessicated sandworm.

Musk is after The Spice! To go with his daily diet of mushrooms, ketamine, dope, what have you...

[SkyDancer]

Sheesh, guys, come’on .....

[telescope115]

One of the strangest things I’ve seen from Mars photos. And what is that dark, liquid-like stuff.

And I don’t get the “obscene” reference. And no need to explain.

[telescope115]

That is crazy. It needs some serious investigating.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I had a similar thought. I was thinking that it looks like a rock quarry to me, but I do not see any tailings piles or access roads or rusted abandoned cutting, crushing, or moving equipment.