NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Dark Valley in Newton Crater

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-418, 11 July 2003

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
high resolution image shows part of a dark-floored valley
system in northern Newton Crater. The valley might have been
originally formed by liquid water; the dark material is probably
sand that has blown into the valley in more recent times.
The picture was acquired earlier this week
on July 6, 2003, and is located near 39.2°S, 157.9°W.
The picture covers an area 2.3 km (1.4 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.