Nilo Syrtis (or Nilosyrtis) is a region just north of
Syrtis Major Planum on
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin at ...
, at approximately 23°N, 76°E and an elevation of −0.5 km. It marks a region of transition (a "
crustal dichotomy") between southern highland and northern lowland terrain, and consists of isolated peaks and
mesa
A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by a ...
s. On average, the drop in elevation between the two terrains is 5,500 meters (18,000 feet).
Mars Science Laboratory
Nilosyrtis is one of the sites proposed as a landing site for the
Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a robotic space probe mission to Mars launched by NASA on November 26, 2011, which successfully landed ''Curiosity'', a Mars rover, in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012. The overall objectives include investigati ...
. However, it did not make the final cut. It was in the top 7, but not in the top 4.
The aim of the Mars Science Laboratory is to search for signs of ancient life. It is hoped that a later mission could then return samples from sites identified as probably containing remains of life. To safely bring the craft down, a 12-mile-wide, smooth, flat circle is needed. Geologists hope to examine places where water once ponded.
They would like to examine sediment layers.
Gallery
Image:Niolsyrtis Landing Site.JPG, Landing Site in Nilosyrtis, as seen by THEMIS. Site is flat and contains water-altered clay minerals.
Image:Nilosyrtis hirise.JPG, Nilosyrtis, as seen by HiRISE.
Image:Layers in Monument Valley.jpg, Layers in Monument Valley. These are accepted as being formed, at least in part, by water deposition. Since Mars contains similar layers, water remains as a major cause of layering on Mars.
References
Surface features of Mars
Syrtis Major quadrangle
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