Further Detail on ‘Bottomless pit’ on Mars Revealed
Three months ago the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took a captured what looked to be a ‘bottomless’ pit on the Martian surface. The image taken directly from over head showed a hole approximately 150 meters in diameter, with no visible bottom or sides.
A more recent image clearly shows sides to the pit. Researchers believe that this is pit may be the opening to an a lava tube formed by collapsing rock and draining lava. A cave of this size represents several interesting opportunities for researchers. The cave could offer shelter to from strong UV radiation for both Martian life and for future human visitors.
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The best guess on the depth of the pit put it at approximately 80 meters, however the bottom is still not viable so a true depth is not known at this point.
[via NewScientistSpace]

Mon, Sep 3, 2007
Space