NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a scene in southern Galle Crater, otherwise known as Happy Face Crater. At the north end of the image (toward top, center) is a gully that formed on a slope. At the south end (bottom) is a series of dark sand dunes that have been crisscrossed by dust devils. The dust devils left behind tell-tale streaks. This image is located near 51.9°S, 31.6°W, and is illuminated by sunlight from the upper left. The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide.
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.