Photo: Dry Debris, Not Water, Caused Recent Flows on Mars

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


Sometime between 1999 and 2005 flowing material created a bright streak—seen at left in a new image from the Mars-orbiting HiRISE camera—in a gully on the side of a crater in the Centauri Montes region of Mars.

Computer models of this formation show what it should look like if it was created by pure liquid water (middle) or a landslide of dry debris (right). The new study concludes that the fingering on the end of the feature better matches the dry landslide scenario.

Image courtesy Jon Pelletier, UA

MOST VIEWED NEWS

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies

PICTURES: "Extraordinary" Ancient Skeletons Found
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.