NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Elysium Mons Wind Streak

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-556, 26 November 2003

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows a wind streak formed behind a meteor impact
crater on the lower north flank of the volcano, Elysium Mons.
Winds blow down the volcano slope, toward the northeast
(toward upper right), causing a tail of uneroded dust to
be captured behind the crater. Thin, filamentary dark
streaks (resembling pencil scratches in this image) can be
seen on the surface of the bright wind streak; these may
have formed by disruption of surface dust by passing dust
devils. This picture is
located near 27.7°N, 212.7°W.
The image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide, and is
illuminated by sunlight 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.