NASA Mars Picture of the Day: Work of Wind on Pavonis Mons

Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-558, 28 November 2003

NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
picture presents a high resolution view of the thick,
dust-mantled surface of the upper west flank of the
volcano, Pavonis Mons. Strong slope winds move and
redistribute some of the fine sediment on the surface
of this volcano, creating a pattern of light and dark
wind streaks. The cluster of craters near the center of
the image, for example, have bright tails that indicate
winds blew from the lower left (southwest) toward
upper right (northeast). This image is
located near 0.7°N, 113.4°W.
The image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide, and is
illuminated by sunlight from the left/lower 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.