Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera
Small Dust Storm in Syria/Claritas
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-567, 7 December 2003
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
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NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) wide angle image shows a small dust storm, and several other smaller dust plumes, billowing up from the light-toned plains near the boundary between Syria Planum and the Claritas Fossae. This area, located near 14.5°S, 108.3°W, is monitored by MOC several times a week because it is frequently the site of small dust storms and extremely large dust devils. The image covers an area approximately 125 km (78 mi) wide and is illuminated from the left/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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