NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Meridiani Complexity
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-1074, 27 April 2005
 NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a high resolution view of a surface composed almost entirely of eroded, exposed sedimentary rock in the Sinus Meridiani region of Mars. If one could vacuum up all of the dark sand and dust that covers the rocks at the Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, site, one might find a surface similar to that shown here. Note, just right of center, the occurrence of a circular feature. This is the site of a filled and buried meteor impact crater. Filled and buried craters are common among the sedimentary rocks of the Meridiani region. |
Location near: 1.5°N, 359.4°W |
Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi) |
Illumination from: upper left |
Season: Northern Summer |
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.
