Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera

Southern Auqakuh Vallis

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-421, 14 July 2003


NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Auqakuh Vallis is located in northeastern Arabia Terra, an eroded, cratered highland terrain. Because erosion has removed hundreds of meters (or more) of material from the terrain surrounding Auqakuh Vallis, the valley today appears to be much shallower and wider than it was when it formed. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a shallow reach of the valley at its southernmost extent. The valley floor runs east-west (left-right) across the center of this picture. The floor of the valley has several dozen large, windblown ripples on it. The surrounding terrain has been eroded to form mesas and a few nearly-straight ridges known as dikes. This picture, acquired in July 2003, is located near 27.7°N, 298.0°W. The image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is illuminated from the 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.

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