Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera

Sand Dunes of Schaeberle Crater

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-391, 14 June 2003


NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This March 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows dark sand dunes near the center of Schaeberle Crater, located at 24.6°S, 310.3°W. The steepest slopes on the dunes point toward the left/upper left (northwest), indicating that, when the dunes were active, the dominant regional winds blew from the right/lower right (southeast). The dunes today, however, have a somewhat stunted and sculpted appearance, which suggests that in the most recent part of their history, they have been somewhat eroded. This image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide and is illuminated 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.

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