NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Partially-Filled Valley
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-1417, 30 March 2006
 NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
| This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a valley which has become partially-filled with material. It is located west of Hellas Planitia. The valley, entering the scene from the east (right), turns toward the southwest (lower left) and splits to form a “V”. Partially-filled depressions are common throughout the scene, including the circular feature near the top of the image. In each such case, the filling material is probably the remains of a material that once covered the entire scene. |
| Location near: 48.4°S, 318.1°W |
| Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi) |
| Illumination from: upper left |
| Season: Southern Summer |
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.
