'Hiker's Maps' of Mars Created

A topographic map sheet of a part of the Iani Chaos region on Mars, based on image data obtained with the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express. Such 'Topographic Image Map Mars 1:200 000' has been designed as an example of a possible standard map series for the HRSC experiment. (Image credit: Map Compilation: Technische Universitä´ Berlin, 2006; Image Data: ESA / DLR / FU Berlin (G. Neukum))

When spacetravelers finally traipse across the dusty Martian surface, they'll knowjust what kind of terrain to expect thanks to scientists at the European SpaceAgency who are producing the first "hiker's maps" of the red planet.

The newtopographic maps, based on data collected by the ESA's MarsExpress spacecraft, could become the standard cartographic reference forfuture Martian research, as well as explorationon foot.

Forstarters, researchers have created a map of the Iani Chaos region, chosen forthe rock "islands" that litter the landscape in an interesting,chaotic pattern. These rocks are likely the remains of a previous Martiansurface that collapsed when the icesupporting subsurface cavities melted from volcanicheat.

The data havealso been transformed into 3-Dcomputer models of Mars's surface.

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