NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Devil’s Scratches
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-1571, 31 August 2006
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows streaks and scratch marks made in a thin coating of dust on the martian surface in the southern hemisphere. These streaks were made by passing dust devils during the summer season. |
Location near: 62.6°S, 89.0°W |
Image width: ~1 km (~0.6 mi) |
Illumination from: upper left |
Season: Southern Summer |
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.