NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Arnus Vallis

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-892, 27 October 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image, acquired in October 2004, shows a portion of Arnus Vallis, a valley in northern Syrtis Major. Windblown sand has accumulated in the valley, forming dunes that are of a slightly lighter tone (higher albedo) than the surrounding terrain. This image is located near 15.1°N, 289.0°W. The picture covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the upper 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.