ESA - Robotic Exploration of Mars - Nili Fossae

Nili Fossae is a graben system on Mars. It is found at 22°N / 77°E, northeast of the Syrtis Major volcanic province, on the northwestern edge of the giant Isidis impact basin. This image shows an area covering approximately 10 300 km². It was taken during orbit 5270, on 8 February 2008, using the High-Resolution Stereo Camera on Mars Express.

Nili Fossae interests planetary scientists because observations taken with telescopes on the Earth and published in 2009 have shown that there is a significant enhancement in Mars’ atmospheric methane over this area, suggesting that methane may be being produced there. Its origin remains mysterious, however, and could be geological or perhaps even biological.

As a result, understanding the origin of methane on Mars is high on the priority list and the ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter will investigate this further. Nili Fossae will be observed with great interest.

 
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