Mars Picture of the Day: Cerberus Fossae Troughs

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-876, 11 October 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows portions of two of the Cerberus Fossae
troughs, their dark-toned interiors, and dark wind streaks
formed from material blowing out of the troughs. The
wind streaks indicate winds that blew from the northeast
(upper right) toward the southwest (lower left). The
crust of Mars expanded and split to form the
troughs. These features are located
near 6.6°N, 187.2°W.
The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide.
Sunlight illuminates the scene 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.