(MOC) on the Mars Global Surveyor released today online may be volcanic features known as "pseudocraters" or "rootless cones," scientists believe. These are cone-shaped features with holes or pits at their summits that occur on the surface of rough-textured lava plain in Amazonis Planitia in Mars' northern hemisphere.

Pseudocraters form by explosions that result when molten lava interacts with a water-rich surface. The images are online at the Malin Space Science Systems web site, http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/10_22_99_gsa_cones/
The image is credited to NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems and the University of Arizona.

Alfred S. McEwen will give an invited talk on these and other exciting new images of volcanic landforms on Mars on Monday, Oct. 25, at the annual Geological Society of America meeting in Denver. McEwen is director of the Planetary Image Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and a member of the MOC imaging team.   Contact  McEwen  at UA at 520-621-4573, mcewen@pirl.lpl.arizona.edu
 

** Kring to chair GSA symposium on impact events and consequences for life. Sixty-five million years ago the Chicxulub impact event resulted in mass extinction for some – like the dinosaurs – but it created new evolutionary opportunities for others – mammals, for instance.  This dual pattern of disaster and opportunity has probably existed with impact events throughout Earth history, even during the earliest development of life, according to David A. Kring of the planetary sciences department at the University of Arizona.

* Note: Look very closely at this photo taken by "Mars  Orbiter" just before it's demise.
http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/10_22_99_gsa_cones/  What do you see...This link is provided by the
University of Arizona.

There will be a special presentation on the Mars Orbiter and Mars Obserever at the "Star Conference" by Mitch Battros and Bob Fletcher this coming October 29th, 30th, 31st.
http://www.earthchangesTV.com/events/index.htm

Mitch Battros
Producer - Earth Changes TV
http://www.earthchangesTV.com