Description
16 April 2006
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows the margin of an ancient, cratered, hummocky (rough) lava flow at just the point where it encroached upon a small impact crater east of the volcano, Tharsis Tholus. The lava flow was thin enough and didn't have sufficient energy to flow into and bury the crater. Instead, it took the path of least of resistance, around the crater.
Location near: 85.5°S, 76.8°W
Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from: upper left
Season: Southern Summer
