Tempe Fossae

Today's VIS image is shows a small portion of Tempe Fossae. The fossae are graben comprised of paired, parallel fractures with a down-dropped block of material between the fracture set. This morphology is created by extensional tectonic stresses. This image is located in a region of Tempe Terra that is complexly fractured. The complete fossae system in almost 2000 km (1242 miles) long. Orbit Number: 80189 Latitude: 39.8621 Longitude: 286.175 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2020-01-12 02:09 https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA23815