NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Leveed Channel in Lava Flow

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-940, 14 December 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
image shows a leveed channel running down the middle of
a lava flow in Daedalia Planum, the southern plains of
the Tharsis volcanic region. Transport of fluid lava
through a channel such as this helps insulate the molten
rock, keeping it hot longer, and thus permits the flow to
extend to greater distances than it otherwise might. This
example is located
near 23.6°S, 123.2°W, and covers an area
approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) wide. The scene is illuminated
by sunlight 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.