Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera

Small Volcano

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-425, 18 July 2003


NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) high resolution image, acquired 13 July 2003, shows a small, dust-covered volcano on the plains east of Pavonis Mons. The floor of the caldera--the elliptical depression at the summit of the volcano--has a few windblown ripples on it. The ripples and thick dust mantle, together with the small impact craters on its surface, indicate that the volcano erupted some time ago. There has been no activity at this volcano in geologically recent times. This image covers an area 3 km wide by 6.8 km (1.9 mi by 4.2 mi); the aspect ratio is 1 across by 1.5 down. The volcano is located near 1.6°S, 105.7°W; sunlight illuminates the scene from the 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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