Perspective view of Meridiani Planum

Meridiani Planum at the northern edge of the southern highlands of Mars. In the centre of the almost 50-km-wide impact crater is dark material, most likely resembling volcanic ash. Poking through the dark covering are small mounds, probably made of more resistant material. The softer material around them has been eroded and blown out of the crater by north-easterly winds and now lies outside the crater.