NASA Mars Picture of the Day: East Candor Rocks

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-859, 24 September 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows a thick, massive outcrop of light-toned rock
exposed within eastern Candor Chasma, part of the vast
Valles Marineris trough system. Dark, windblown sand has
banked against the lower outcrop slopes. Outcrops such as
this in the Valles Marineris chasms have been known since
Mariner 9 images were obtained in 1972. However, the debate
as to whether these represent sedimentary or igneous rocks
has not been settled within the Mars science community. In
either case, they have the physical properties of sedimentary
rock (that is, they are formed of fine-grained materials), but
some igneous rocks made up of volcanic ash may also exhibit
these properties. This image is located
near 7.8°S, 65.3°W, and
covers an area approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) across. The
scene is illuminated by sunlight from the lower left.

Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology
built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission.
MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego, California.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars Surveyor Operations Project
operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial
partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena,
California and Denver, Colorado.