Mi(ni)Geo

A Forest of Channels on the South Polar Layered Deposits (by Lunar and Planetary Institute)

The sublimation of seasonal carbon dioxide in the Martian polar regions seems to erode connected channels on the underlying surface, as escaping carbon dioxide gas scours the surface beneath the carbon dioxide ice. Such features are fairly common to the south polar region. However, the channel clusters here are unusually even in their spacing. The carbon dioxide gas-driven erosion will exploit pre-existing weakness in the underlying surface, so it’s possible that these features are following joints or fractures that exist in the layered deposits. The regularity of these features may suggest something about the thickness of ground ice deep below the surface. ASU-IPF-3256

Animation of a rotating globe of Jupiter’s moon Io, with a geologic map superimposed over a global color mosaic. The 47-second animation begins as a global color mosaic image of the moon, then at 24 seconds, it displays the geologic map overlain on the mosaic. (via USGS)

(Source: youtube.com)

This shows the largest of the newly detected graben found in highlands of the lunar farside. The broadest graben is about 500 meters (1,640 feet) wide and topography derived from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) stereo images indicates they are almost 20 meters (almost 66 feet) deep. Credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University/Smithsonian Institution (via NASA)

This handout photo provided by Darryl Pitt of the Macovich Collection shows an external view of a Martian meteorite recovered in December 2011 near Foumzgit, Morocco following a meteorite shower believed to have occurred in July 2011. Scientists are confirming a recent and rare invasion from Mars _ meteorite chunks that fell from the red planet over Morocco last summer. Meteorites from Mars are more than 1 million times rarer than gold. And this is only the fifth time experts have chemically confirmed fresh Martian rocks fell to Earth. The last time was in 1962. Scientists believe this meteorite fell last July because there were sightings of it. Credit: Darryl Pitt, Macovich Collection (vía The Associated Press)

Gullies in Bloom (by Lunar and Planetary Institute)

This observation shows mid-latitude-type gullies and dark and light materials. There are dunes in this crater as well (east of the gully aprons). One of the more stunning features is the gully formation right outside the center swath of the full image. ASU-IPF-3254

Observing the Moon (by Science Museum London)

Diapositive of photograph taken with the Kew Photoheliograph, 1860–62. This photograph of the Moon was taken by Warren De La Rue using the Kew photoheliograph, the first astronomical instrument with built-in photography. At Kew Observatory, the instrument was used to track changes in the appearance of the Sun and Moon.

In 1859, Richard Carrington observed a large group of sunspots, and two solar flares. The flares’ path is marked A-C and B-D. This was one of the first observations of solar flares, which Carrington suspected were the cause of the disruption on Earth. Credit: Science Museum. (via Stories from the stores)

ISS027-E-036747 (by NASA: 2Explore)

23 May 2011 —- This image of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour, flying at an altitude of approximately 220 miles, was taken by Expedition 27 crew member Paolo Nespoli from the Soyuz TMA-20 following its undocking on May 23, 2011 (USA time). The pictures taken by Nespoli are the first taken of a shuttle docked to the International Space Station from the perspective of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Onboard the Soyuz were Russian cosmonaut and Expedition 27 commander Dmitry Kondratyev; Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut; and NASA astronaut Cady Coleman. Coleman and Nespoli were both flight engineers. The three landed in Kazakhstan later that day, completing 159 days in space.

Sphere of the heavens (by Science Museum London)

Clock-driven Chinese celestial globe, 1830. This celestial globe has an internal clockwork drive so that it turns to represent the motion of the stars. On the surface you can see the stars grouped according to Chinese constellations. The Milky Way is shown by a band of dots, and five patches represent star clusters.

Fragile Oasis - Connecting Space and Earth: Learn. Act. Make A Difference. (by FragileOasis)

This extraordinary view of our planet Earth offers a very brief sneak peek #FromSpace of an exciting project we’re working on for @FragileOasis. With our thanks to musician and pioneering advocate for human rights, Peter Gabriel. ”Did you think that your feet had been bound by what gravity brings to the ground? Did you feel you were tricked by the future you picked? Well, come on down …”

“Eh! You seen one Earth, you’ve seen them all.” Quote from Apollo 17 astronaut and the one and only geologist to walk on the Moon, Jack Schmitt. (via InterplanetSarah)

Stratigraphy of Kasimov Crater Fill (by Lunar and Planetary Institute)

This image shows layered sedimentary rocks and ripples that fill and surround Kasimov crater. These layered deposits may have formed through the accumulation of sediment that was transported into this crater by blowing wind. The crater interior contains a sequence of layers that are remnants of the material that originally infilled the crater. These sediments form an extensive deposit that once covered the floor of the surrounding larger crater.

14-billion-years-later:

The Waters of Mars

The above image shows a basic simulation of what Mars may have looked like two billion years ago. Note the ocean.

Evidence has come to light that Mar’s lowlands may have been covered in water. This idea has come about as samples of rock show an abundance of phyllosilicates (a type of mineral) when compared to rock samples from higher elevations. As phyllosilicates are usually found in salt water on Earth so the logical conclusion to make is that parts of Mars were once submerged by oceans. Before you go pack your time machine for a visit to the ancient beaches of Mars it should be noted that this ocean would have been frigid and rimmed by glaciers. When taking a look at the coast line the geological evidence supports this, often showing signs of glacial wear and tear along with deposits of rocks known as moraines.

In a photograph taken from the space shuttle Columbia that’s astonishing for its clarity and breathtaking beauty, Chile and the Andes mountains look close enough to touch, while the perfect blue curve of the Earth’s atmosphere against the black void of space looks at once incredibly fragile and eternal. (via LIFE)

Springtime at Marsʼ South Pole (by Lunar and Planetary Institute)

About two-thirds of the image is covered by part of the southern polar ice cap and other scattered ice deposits, near a feature known as Ulyxis Rupes. Ulyxis Rupes is a large cliff with a length of 390 km and a height of up to 1 km. The left side of the image is dominated by the polar capʼs ice shield, which is covered by dark dusty material that hides the bright ices beneath. (…) Just northward of the ice shield, about halfway across the image, there are large ice deposits that are heavily covered by overlying material blown into long dunes by the prevailing winds in this region. The orientation of the dunes suggests the wind must come predominantly from the northwest. With increasing distance from the south pole, ice becomes confined to larger impact craters, such as the one in the top right of the image. (…) Puzzling parallel structures in the martian dust can be seen in the bottom right quarter of the image. Although their origin is uncertain, it is possible that they are the result of underlying ice deposits, permanently frozen because they are protected by overlying dust and rocks. Image taken in January 2011.