NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Kasei Valles Scene

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-483, 14 September 2003

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This is a May 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter
Camera (MOC) picture of terrain in the Kasei Valles region.
The lower third of the image shows flow patterns formed
by mud or lava from some of the youngest flow events
that occurred in the valley system. These events occurred
some time ago, however, because there has been sufficient
time for a plethora of small impact craters to form on
the surface. In addition, large, ripple-like, windblown
bedforms occur along the margin of the flow materials
and the adjacent upland. At least two generations of
ripples are recognized–a suite of larger ones with
groups of smaller ripples located between them.
The image is located near 16.4°N, 74.9°W.
This picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) across and
is illuminated by sunlight from the lower 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.