Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera
Eroded Crater
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-488, 19 September 2003
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
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NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This April 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows an old, eroded meteor impact crater in western Chryse Planitia near 20.6°N, 50.8°W. This crater is located "downstream" of the ancient outflow channel system of Maja Valles; it is about half the distance between Maja Valles and the Viking 1 landing site, which occurs further "downstream" of this area toward the northeast (upper right). Much of the erosion that wore the crater's rims down to their present, rounded state might have occurred during the floods that are thought to have poured onto Chryse Planitia from Maja Valles. The picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide and is illuminated by sunlight 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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