A Grander Canyon

The Red Planet is home to Valles Marineris, the solar system's largest canyon. Within this canyon lies Ius Chasma. This image, which spans the floor of its southern trench, was taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The layered deposits consist of dark basalt lava flows and bright sedimentary layers. The sediments are likely to be from atmospheric dust, sand or alluvium from an ancient water source. The layers are visible on the gentle slopes above the canyon floor, in pitted areas, and in small mesa buttes. The floor of the canyon is littered with megaripples that are aligned in a north-south direction.

Ius Chasma is believed to have been shaped by a process called sapping when water seeped from the layers of the cliffs and evaporated before it reached the canyon floor. Ius Chasma also has several structural features such as east trending normal faults and grabens that deformed the canyons. Recent geomorphological events include avalanches and minor sapping from gullies that continued to erode the canyon walls.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

Somehow an image of a chasm seems appropriate.

Spending a few days out of town gives you far too much time to think. Trying to reevaluate relationships, trying to reevaluate life, trying to figure out why you're not taking out the camera when you've gone through such trouble to bring it with you. I mean, it's Savannah for Chrissakes.

What would Grandma Gerlach have said? It had been so long since we spent time together, so long since the stroke, it feels impossible to imagine. It's the guilt I always encounter first. I haven't been able to get past it.

So it's an incredible relief to be back home, where time isn't suspended, and bury myself once again in daily life. I can't ignore the chasm, but it's become part of the scenery.

Go high-res, baby.