NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Crater and Wind Streak
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-461, 23 August 2003
![]() NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows a crater with a bright wind streak in southern
Acidalia Planitia. The streak is mostly likely a very thin
coating of dust. The orientation of the streak indicates
that the winds responsible for its formation and maintenance
came from the northeast (upper right) and blew toward the
lower left (southwest). The crater is located near
24.8°N, 39.1°W. The image covers an are 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.