NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Hellas Banded Terrain

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-759, 16 June 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows the banded southeastern floor of the giant
impact basin, Hellas. Hellas Planitia is a large and
varied region. In southeastern Hellas, banded terrain
is fairly common. The pattern probably results
from erosion of layered sediment that was subsequently
covered by a mantling material. This mantling material later
was eroded and roughened the terrain somewhat. This image
is located
near 41.1°S, 275.6°W.
The picture covers an area about 3 km (1.9 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.