Erosion on Mars

Description

These are sedimentary rock deposits in the Gale Crater on Mars. Analysis indicates that wind-driven erosion and scarp retreat has formed these features. This view looks west-northwest from ‘Yellowknife Bay’. Features include the Point Lake outcrop (centre right), the Gillespie Lake sandstone (bottom right), and the Sheepbed mudstone (bottom left). The Curiosity rover is part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. It landed on Mars on 6 August 2012, on a mission to investigate the Martian climate and geology. Image obtained with the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on 14 February 2013. (Photo by Science Photo Library)