Window to the past

In this false-colour image, the CaSSIS camera on the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter captures the sides of the wall of an unnamed crater with a diameter of about 8 km. This crater is located in Mawrth Vallis, and its walls expose the rock record of this region. Mawrth is known to be rich in phyllosilicate clay minerals, which can only form under the presence of liquid water. Because of the presence and variety of these hydrated minerals, Mawrth Vallis is one of the most colourful areas on Mars.

The image was made by combining CaSSIS' blue, red and panchromatic filters.