NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Layered Rocks In Melas

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-763, 20 June 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC),
image shows exposures of finely-bedded sedimentary rocks
in western Melas Chasma, part of the vast Valles Marineris
trough system. Rocks similar to these occur in neighboring
west Candor Chasma, as well. The picture is located
near 9.1°S, 74.5°W, and
covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide. The scene is
illuminated by sunlight from the left/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.