Radially-oriented Slope Streaks paint stripes on the sides of this Unnamed Crater located in the Arabia Terra Region of Mars. Slope Streaks are common features on steep Slopes in Mars' Dusty Terrain, and this Impact Crater constitutes a particularly dramatic example of such a phenomenon. Slope Streaks, which are thought to be the result of shallow cascades of Dust, are usually dark when they are fresh, while they fade (meaning that they assume a lighter color) as they age. Said that, if you look at this picture carefully, you shall be able to notice that this Unnamed Martian Crater must have experienced repeated episodes of streak formation, and all the times around its entire circumference. 

Furthermore, the specific configuration of this Unnamed Crater (as a matter of fact, it shows some sort of "Double Rim": an Outer one, more elevated, old and smooth, and an Inner one, located on a deeper level and apparently much fresher - the Rim from which almost all the Slope Streaks depart), also suggests that it must have gone through a phenomenon of subsidence, quite some time after its formation.

 

Mars Local Time: 14:57 (Early Afternoon)
Coord. (centered): 14,1° North Lat. and 15,8° East Long.
Spacecraft altitude: 281,4 Km (such as about 175,9 miles)
Original image scale range: 28,2 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~ 84 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale: 25 cm/pixel
Map projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission Angle: 8,1°
Phase Angle: 50,2°
Solar Incidence Angle: 43° (meaning that the Sun is about 47° above the Local Horizon)
Solar Longitude: 66,6° (Northern Spring)
Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

 

This frame has been colorized in Absolute Natural Colors by (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of the Arabia Terra Region - Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.