Geologic Mapping in the Midway Mars 2020 Landing Ellipse

The upcoming 2020 Mars Rover Mission is slated to land in Jezero crater and collect samples as part of the first phase in a multi-part Mars sample return campaign. Jezero crater holds fluvio-lacustrine deposits of great importance to understanding Mars, however the geology outside Jezero crater includes some of the most ancient Martian crust and holds similar scientific value. One site outside Jezero crater is under consideration for exploration during an extended Mars 2020 mission. This site, coined "Midway," is about thirty kilometers southwest of Jezero crater and just north of the proposed NE Syrtis landing ellipse. The Midway site includes important geology from the Syrtis region, and is within a feasible drive distance from the initial landing ellipse in Jezero crater. In this work, through the use of ArcGIS and HiRISE imaging, a comprehensive geologic map of this Midway region was constructed. The geologic map presented was created with similar methods of geological mapping on Earth. Interpretations were based on variations in erosional pattern, tone, and terrain observed at the 1:5000 scale. Mapping shows the diversity of units within the Midway region and suggests areas of further exploration, both from Earth and in-situ.