NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Russell Dunes

Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-677, 26 March 2004

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Dark streaks made by dozens of spring and summer dust
devils created a form of martian graffiti on the sand
dunes of Russell Crater
near 54.5°S, 347.4°W.
Gullies have developed on some of the dune slopes, as well.
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
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.