NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Dark Mesas of Aram Chaos

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-779, 6 July 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows several dark-toned mesas surrounded by light-toned
sedimentary rock outcrops in Aram Chaos, a large impact
basin–over 200 km (more than 125 mi) across. These
mesas are remnants of a once more extensive rock unit.
The image is located
near 2.0°N, 20.2°W, and
covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide.
Sunlight illuminates the scene from the 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.