NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Columbus Wall Outcrop

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-707, 25 April 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows light-toned, somewhat layered rock outcrops on
the north wall of Columbus Crater, located
near 28.7°S, 166.3°W. This material is a remnant of
a formerly more extensive light-toned unit that extended across
the floor of Columbus. Today, remnants are found all around
the walls of the crater, and at least one small remnant has been
spotted on the crater floor.
The picture covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) across.
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.