Vastitas Borealis

Vastitas Borealis ( Vastitas, Latin, Desert, used in the IAU Mars nomenclature for great level; borealis, Latin, north ) is the largest flat level on the planet Mars. It is located in the northern latitudes of the planet and surrounds the northern polar region called Planum Boreum. Vastitas Borealis is often referred to simply as the northern plain of Mars or as Borealis basin. The plane is about 4-5 km below the mean radius of the planet.

In 2005, the Mars probe Mars Express European Space Agency photographed a considerable amount of water ice in a crater in the region. Enable the environmental conditions in the region that water ice can keep stable there. It was discovered evaporated as overlying carbon dioxide ice during the Martian summer.

In August 2007, NASA launched the Mars Phoenix probe, which landed on 25 May 2008 in Vastitas Borealis, ie, during the early summer in the Martian northern hemisphere. It was a stationary probe, among other things, Took soil samples. Among other things, various minerals, but also found perchlorates. Phoenix sent until November 2, 2008 Research data. Renewed attempts to contact 2010 were not successful. One picture showed signs of severe damage due to icing.

Description

The northern part of Vastitas Borealis is covered with large and small dune fields. The largest dune field of Mars, Olympic Undae (81 ° 10 ' N, 178 ° 29' OMars81.16178.48 ) is over 1500 km long. Here deposits were discovered by gypsum. The result could be due to an outflow of melt water from the ditch 's northern Chasma Boreale.

Could also be observed moraines ( deposits moved by glaciers as they move or are heaped ) (74 ° 40 'N, 95 ° 16' OMars74.66666666666795.266666666667 ), possibly caused by carbon dioxide Glacier.