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28. but who knows what's hiding in those lava tubes........'The Caves of Mars'

Reply to Odin2005 (Reply #27)

Tue Dec 16, 2014, 09:50 PM

Dec 2014

What secrets lie within the Caves of Mars?

One of the first was discovered by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in 2007. It is more than 490 feet across. Like most similar features, it's probably a collapsed lava tube. Holes such as these are officially known as "skylights". Skylights on Earth often form in volcanic regions where ancient lava flows have created underground lava tubes.

When the flow of lava ceases and the tubes become empty, caverns may form. If the roof of one these caverns collapses, a skylight forms. This theory gains support from the fact that the Martian hole lies in the midst of the Arsias Mons volcano system.

Most similar Martian skylights are also found in volcanic areas. Skylights have also been observed on the Moon.

http://io9.com/5927836/what-secrets-lie-within-the-caves-of-mars

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Let's frack Mars! LuvNewcastle Dec 2014 #20

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Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #25

Martian cows darkangel218 Dec 2014 #26

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but who knows what's hiding in those lava tubes........'The Caves of Mars' Baclava Dec 2014 #28

K&R n/t Feral Child Dec 2014 #29