NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Hecates Tholus

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-526, 27 October 2003

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
red wide angle image shows Hecates Tholus, the northernmost
of the three large Elysium volcanoes. The non-circular pit just
southwest (toward lower left) of the center of this view
is the summit caldera, a complex depression formed by collapse.
This volcano has several large impact craters
on its surface, indicating that it is a relatively old
landform. None of the martian volcanoes are thought
to be active today, and none of the MOC images of the martian
volcanoes obtained thus far give any indication to the contrary.
Hecates Tholus is located at
32°N, 210°W. This picture is illuminated by sunlight
from the lower left and covers an area about 170 km (~105 mi)
across.

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.