Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera
Volcanoes Ceraunius Tholus and Uranius Tholus
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-305, 18 April 2002
Acquired in March 2002, this Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter
Camera (MOC) wide angle view shows the martian volcanoes, Ceraunius
Tholus (lower) and Uranius Tholus (upper). The presence of impact
craters on these volcanoes, particularly on Uranius Tholus; indicates
that they are quite ancient and are not active today. The
light-toned area on the southeastern face (toward lower right)
of Ceraunius Tholus is a remnant of a once more extensive
deposit of dust from the global dust storm events that occurred
in 2001. The crater at the
summit of Ceraunius Tholus is about 25 km (15.5 mi) across. Sunlight
illuminates the scene from the lower left.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
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,
CA. 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, CA
and Denver, CO.
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