Humans have not yet stepped foot on Mars, but many types of spacecraft—flybys, orbiters, landers, and rovers—have had the chance to visit the planet and collect valuable observations. Remote sensing allows scientists to study distant worlds from afar. An understanding of how geological processes work on Earth helps scientists interpret data gathered remotely by instruments onboard spacecraft, such as high-resolution cameras, spectrometers, and radar.
The topography of Mars includes many striking features. Hundreds of thousands of impact craters have been identified, some of which show evidence of flowing water, and Mars is home to one of the largest volcanoes in the solar system as well as a huge canyon system that stretches more than 4000 kilometers.
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Watch this video flyover of the Martian landscape. It was created using data from HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment), an instrument onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
In the notes box below, describe a surface feature of Mars, how it was likely formed, and how it has changed over time.