Abstract
The Martian caves have revived interest in the field of speleology
because they are the potential destinations for future human residences
and astrobiological research. The skylights are formed by the collapse
of the surface materials into the subsurface void spaces. Hence, they
are the doors to access the subsurface caves. The signature of life is
probable in a sub-surface cave on Mars as it can protect life from the
harsh and dangerous radiation environment of the surface. In a cave,
there may be an abundance of minerals, fluids, and other key resources.
Therefore, locating the skylights is essential and crucial for
formulating plans for robotics/human explorations of the Red Planet,
Mars. We have used remote sensing data from MRO (Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter; NASA), MGS (Mars Global Surveyor; NASA), and Mars Odyssey
(NASA) for identifying, mapping, and classifying of skylights based on
their morphology, morphometry, and thermal behavior. A total of
thirty-two skylight candidates have been examined which includes
twenty-six newly discovered ones. Out of these, seventeen have been
classified as Atypical Pit Craters (APCs) and fifteen as Bowl-shaped Pit
Craters (BPCs). Among these, there are twelve newly found APCs. The APCs
are considered as potential skylights associated with caves; however,
considering the formation and the geological context, fifteen BPCs,
which have displayed the requisite morphological and thermal behavior,
have also been considered as potential skylights.