<p>While I was browsing Mars on Google Earth, I stumbled upon an interesting feature on one of the slopes of Valles Marineris. The feature seems unique in the sense that I couldn't find any similar element on the valley.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lz9AR.jpg" alt="Top View"> <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IwQB2.jpg" alt="3D Front View"></p>

<p>It made me think of sand that just fell from the clifftop or the veins of water that have already been observed on Mars (such as <a href="http://www.wired.com/2011/03/happy-birthday-mro/#slideid-591036" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.wired.com/2011/03/happy-birthday-mro/#slideid-591036</a>). But it doesn't seems to match completely with this explanation.</p>

<p>Does any of you have seen this before from current Mars research or from similar phenomenon on Earth?</p>

<p>Coordinates :</p>

<pre><code>14°32'25.35"S 54°15'12.43"O
</code></pre>

<p>Google GMail direct link :
<a href="https://www.google.ch/maps/space/mars/@-14.5528401,-54.2675885,41353a,20y,4.75h,0.44t/data=!3m1!1e3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.google.ch/maps/space/mars/@-14.5528401,-54.2675885,41353a,20y,4.75h,0.44t/data=!3m1!1e3</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T07:52:35.797Z
There is a lot of interpolation going on. So it may not mean anything. For example, in your second picture, in some regions the top of the hill connects to the next layer in a very discontinuous fashion. Which seems to indicate an artifact of the interpolation. While these images come from the HiRISE camera it does not guarantee that what is presented by the google mars engine is anything like the 0.3 m resolution pictures we can obtain. http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/1140/whats-the-highest-resolution-camera-orbiting-mars-as-of-2013
Isopycnal Oscillation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T15:36:28.107Z
Your Google link brings me to the wrong planet (Earth).
gerrit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-30T04:48:55.187Z
It's really hurting my brain that these two images are from opposite angles. I can't figure out the shadows in the first one.
naught101
<geophysics><planetary-science><groundwater><desert><mars>
What is this strange feature on Mars in Valles Marineris
Tony
# What is this strange feature on Mars in Valles Marineris

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-27)

While I was browsing Mars on Google Earth, I stumbled upon an interesting feature on one of the slopes of Valles Marineris. The feature seems unique in the sense that I couldn't find any similar element on the valley.

![Top View](https://i.sstatic.net/lz9AR.jpg) ![3D Front View](https://i.sstatic.net/IwQB2.jpg)

It made me think of sand that just fell from the clifftop or the veins of water that have already been observed on Mars (such as <http://www.wired.com/2011/03/happy-birthday-mro/#slideid-591036>). But it doesn't seems to match completely with this explanation.

Does any of you have seen this before from current Mars research or from similar phenomenon on Earth?

Coordinates :

```
14°32'25.35"S 54°15'12.43"O

```

Google GMail direct link :
<https://www.google.ch/maps/space/mars/@-14.5528401,-54.2675885,41353a,20y,4.75h,0.44t/data=!3m1!1e3>

**Tags:** geophysics, planetary-science, groundwater, desert, mars

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There is a lot of interpolation going on. So it may not mean anything. For example, in your second picture, in some regions the top of the hill connects to the next layer in a very discontinuous fashion. Which seems to indicate an artifact of the interpolation. While these images come from the HiRISE camera it does not guarantee that what is presented by the google mars engine is anything like the 0.3 m resolution pictures we can obtain. http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/1140/whats-the-highest-resolution-camera-orbiting-mars-as-of-2013  
> **username_2**: Your Google link brings me to the wrong planet (Earth).  
> **username_3**: It's really hurting my brain that these two images are from opposite angles. I can't figure out the shadows in the first one.  

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## 0 answers

