NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Sediments of Arabia
Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-1190, 21 August 2005
 NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows martian sediment in two basic forms: (1) light-toned, layered, sedimentary rock outcrops and (2) dark, windblown sand dunes. The dark sand of the dunes is most likely composed of grains rich in iron-, magnesium-, aluminum-, and silicon-bearing minerals. The hills and mounds of layered sedimentary rock were once more extensive, covering the entire scene shown here, which occurs on the floor of a crater in western Arabia Terra. |
Location near: 8.9°N, 1.2°W |
Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi) |
Illumination from: lower left |
Season: Northern Autumn |
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.
