NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Layered South Polar Slope

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-679, 28 March 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows layers exposed in the walls of a crater-like
form (only partially seen here) in the south polar region.
These layers record some of the history of the martian
south pole, although deciphering this record will require
human or robotic explorers to get a closer view.
The layered outcrop is located
near 84.6°S, 359.6°W.
The image 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.