http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20020403a.html

Mars 2001 Odyssey
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
Isidis Rim (Released 3 April 2002)

This lunar-like scene occurs along the southeastern rim of the 
Isidis Planitia basin. The Isidis basin is an ancient impact crater 
some 1200 km across that is found along the boundary separating 
the heavily-cratered southern highland terrain of Mars from the 
northern lowlands. Elements of both terrains are evident in this 
image as an island of rugged highland terrain surrounded by 
smoother lowland terrain. The resurfacing of the Isidis basin 
produced a system of wrinkle ridges, some of which are seen on 
the lowland terrain in the image. Wrinkle ridges are a common
feature on the surface of the moon and add to the lunar-like 
quality of this image. Layers are visible in the large island, 
the most resistant of which likely are from lava flows that 
created the highland terrain. The process by which the 
global-scale highland/lowland dichotomy was created remains a 
mystery. 

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Note: This image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated
for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to
remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the
cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary
motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released
through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a
later time.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for
NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission
Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in
collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS
investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University.
Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the
Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are
conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the
California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Arizona State University


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