NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Bright Iani
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-1549, 9 August 2006
 NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
| This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a knob of light-toned, layered rock exposed by erosion in the Iani Chaos region of Mars. Owing to its similarity to other light-toned rock outcrops on Mars, this may be a remnant of a once more extensive sedimentary rock formation. |
| Location near: 1.6°S, 18.2°W |
| Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi) |
| Illumination from: upper left |
| Season: Southern Autumn |
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.
