Mission Mars Global Surveyor - 1

<h1>PIA00910: MGS Approach Image - Syrtis Major Region</h1><div class="PIA00910" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This image was acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) on August 20, 1997, when MGS was 5.51 million kilometers (3.42 million miles) and 22 days from encounter. At this distance, the MOC's resolution is about 20.6 km per picture element, and the 6800 km (4200 mile) diameter planet is about 330 pixels across. North is at the top of the image. The MGS spacecraft pointed the camera at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 307.3° W. The irregularity of the terminator seen in this image results from contrast processing. This image shows the prominent dark feature Syrtis Major, believed to be a relatively dust-free area of bedrock outcrop and sand dunes. The large Hellas impact basin (2000 km or 1250 miles across) is seen at the bottom of the picture. Clouds from the south polar region fill the basin. The north polar residual ice cap, surrounded by a dark annulus of sand, is seen at the top of the picture.<p>Launched on November 7, 1996, Mars Global Surveyor will enter Mars orbit on Thursday, September 11 around 6:30 PM PDT. After Mars Orbit Insertion, the spacecraft will use atmospheric drag to reduce the size of its orbit, achieving a circular orbit only 400 km (248 mi) above the surface in March 1998, when mapping operations will begin. At that time, MOC narrow angle images will be 14,000 times higher resolution than this picture, and global wide angle images will be 3 times better.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00910" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00910: MGS Approach Image - Syrtis Major Region sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00910: MGS Approach Image - Syrtis Major Region sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00910: MGS Approach Image - Syrtis Major Region
<h1>PIA00911: MGS Approach Image - Chryse Planitia</h1><div class="PIA00911" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">The Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) took this image on August 20, 1997, when the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was 5.67 million kilometers (3.52 million miles) and 22 days from entering orbit. At this distance, the MOC's resolution is about 21.2 km per picture element, and the 6800 km (4200 mile) diameter planet is about 327 pixels across. North is at the top of the image. The MGS spacecraft pointed the camera at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 82.1° W. At this distance from Mars, only bright and dark markings resulting from variations in the amount and thickness of dust and sand are visible. The large dark marking stretching from the right center northward is Acidalia Planitia, a region of rock and sand with less dust on it than the area immediately to the south, Chryse Planitia. Both Viking Lander 1 and Pathfinder landed in the latter, bright area. In this low resolution image, some of the dark features resemble the "canals" seen prominently in maps created by astronomers of the 19th and early 20th century. Mariner 9 and Viking images show that most of these dark lines are associated with sand deposits that are trapped in rough areas.<p>Mars Global Surveyor was launched on November 7, 1996 and will enter Mars orbit on Thursday, September 11 around 6:30 PM PDT. The spacecraft will use atmospheric drag to reduce the size of its orbit. Mapping operations will begin in March 1998.<p>The MOC on MGS is a spare camera originally developed for the ill-fated Mars Observer mission. Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology were responsible for development of both cameras. MSSS operates the MOC from its facilities in San Diego, CA, under contract to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00911" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00911: MGS Approach Image - Chryse Planitia sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00911: MGS Approach Image - Chryse Planitia sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00911: MGS Approach Image - Chryse Planitia
<h1>PIA00912: MGS Approach Image - Elysium Region</h1><div class="PIA00912" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows the Elysium region of Mars as it appeared from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft on August 20, 1997. At the time, MGS was 5.57 million kilometers (3.46 million miles) and 22 days from Mars, and the picture has a resolution is about 20.8 km per picture element. Mars, 6800 km (4200 mile) in diameter, is about 327 pixels across. North is at the top of the image. The camera was pointed at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 217.4° W. At this distance from Mars, only atmospheric phenomena (clouds and fogs) and bright and dark markings resulting from variations in the amount and thickness of dust and sand are usually visible. However, in this view the shading of the relief of the three Elysium volcanoes (from north to south Hector Tholus, Elysium Mons, and Albor Tholus) can be seen owing to their position close to the terminator. Elysium Mons, the center-most volcano, is estimated to be 12,000-14,000 meters (39,000 to 46,000 feet) high.<p>Mars Global Surveyor has been enroute to Mars since November 7, 1996 and arrives there on Thursday, September 11 around 6:30 PM PDT. The spacecraft will use atmospheric drag to reduce the size of its orbit, and will begin mapping operations in March 1998.<p>Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology were responsible for development of the Mars Observer and Mars Global Surveyor cameras. MSSS operates the MOC from its facilities in San Diego, CA, under contract to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00912" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00912: MGS Approach Image - Elysium Region sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00912: MGS Approach Image - Elysium Region sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00912: MGS Approach Image - Elysium Region
<h1>PIA00929: MGS Approach Image - 172.4° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00929" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This image is the first of a sequence of Mars to be taken by the Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter Camera (MOC) between August 19 and August 21, 1997. It was acquired early in the morning of August 19 when the MGS spacecraft was 5.8 million kilometers (3.6 million miles) and 24 days from encounter. At this distance, the MOC's resolution is about 21.8 km per picture element, and the 6800 km (4200 mile) diameter planet is about 312 pixels across. The MGS spacecraft pointed the camera at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 172.4° W. The image shows Olympus Mons, 25 km (15.5 mile) high, 550 km (340 mile) wide volcano, towards the center of the illuminated portion of the planet, with the three other large Tharsis volcanos appearing as dark spots closer to the bright edge, or limb of the planet. The "bulls-eye" appearance of Olympus Mons is likely the result of the interplay between light-colored dust, dark rock, and clouds and fog. The central spot is the light, dust-covered floor of the summit crater (called the caldera), the dark zone is the rocky, less dust-covered upper slope of the volcano, and the outer bright ring is the lower, dust, fog, and cloud covered lower slopes of the volcano. A faint indication of the 3 km high escarpment that surrounds the base of Olympus Mons can be seen as a thin dark line on the outer edge of the bright outer zone. Many of the wispy light areas seen throughout this image are probably other clouds and morning hazes, which have been prominently seen in Hubble Space Telescope images taken this year. The north polar residual ice cap, surrounded by a dark annulus of sand, is seen at the top of this picture.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00929" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00929: MGS Approach Image - 172.4° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00929: MGS Approach Image - 172.4° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00929: MGS Approach Image - 172.4° W longitude
<h1>PIA00930: MGS Approach Image - 262.3° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00930" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This view of Mars shows the broad Elysium plains (light area in center half of picture) "sandwiched" between the dark Utopia plains to the north and the dark diagonal boundary between the Elysium plains and the Tritonis and Cimmerium highlands. The light area near the center of the illuminated planet is the Elysium volcanic center; the bright feature near the edge of the volcanic center is probably a morning cloud. The large impact basin Hellas can be seen at the very bottom of the image; its bland gray appearance suggests that it is filled by fogs and hazes associated with the south polar cap.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00930" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00930: MGS Approach Image - 262.3° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00930: MGS Approach Image - 262.3° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00930: MGS Approach Image - 262.3° W longitude
<h1>PIA00931: MGS Approach Image - 352.2° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00931" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">The bright area at the center of this view of Mars taken by the MGS/MOC is called Arabia. It contains some of the brightest ground on Mars, thought to be especially deep or fresh dust deposits. Syrtis Major, the dark feature curving north-south near the center edge of the planet, is devoid of large amounts of dust, probably because sand moves for frequently there and kicks up the dust into the martian air where it can be transported away. The dark "splotches" near the middle top of the image are small sand dune fields trapped in the depressions of the Protonilus and Nilosyrtis "fretted terrain" (a zone of valleys formed by tectonic fracturing and subsequent erosion). In the lower portion of the image is Terra Sabaea, a heavily cratered area near regions where major dust storms occur. The light, semicircular indentation is the 480 km diameter crater Schiaparelli.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00931" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00931: MGS Approach Image - 352.2° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00931: MGS Approach Image - 352.2° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00931: MGS Approach Image - 352.2° W longitude
<h1>PIA00932: MGS Approach Image - 82.1° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00932" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">The Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) took this image on August 20, 1997, when the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was 5.67 million kilometers (3.52 million miles) and 22 days from entering orbit. At this distance, the MOC's resolution is about 21.2 km per picture element, and the 6800 km (4200 mile) diameter planet is about 327 pixels across. North is at the top of the image. The MGS spacecraft pointed the camera at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 82.1° W. At this distance from Mars, only bright and dark markings resulting from variations in the amount and thickness of dust and sand are visible. The large dark marking stretching from the right center northward is Acidalia Planitia, a region of rock and sand with less dust on it than the area immediately to the south, Chryse Planitia. Both Viking Lander 1 and Pathfinder landed in the latter, bright area. In this low resolution image, some of the dark features resemble the "canals" seen prominently in maps created by astronomers of the 19th and early 20th century. Mariner 9 and Viking images show that most of these dark lines are associated with sand deposits that are trapped in rough areas.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00932" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00932: MGS Approach Image - 82.1° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00932: MGS Approach Image - 82.1° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00932: MGS Approach Image - 82.1° W longitude
<h1>PIA00933: MGS Approach Image - 217.4° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00933" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows the Elysium region of Mars as it appeared from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft on August 20, 1997. At the time, MGS was 5.57 million kilometers (3.46 million miles) and 22 days from Mars, and the picture has a resolution is about 20.8 km per picture element. Mars, 6800 km (4200 mile) in diameter, is about 327 pixels across. North is at the top of the image. The camera was pointed at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 217.4° W. At this distance from Mars, only atmospheric phenomena (clouds and fogs) and bright and dark markings resulting from variations in the amount and thickness of dust and sand are usually visible. However, in this view the shading of the relief of the three Elysium volcanoes (from north to south Hector Tholus, Elysium Mons, and Albor Tholus) can be seen owing to their position close to the terminator. Elysium Mons, the center-most volcano, is estimated to be 12,000-14,000 meters (39,000 to 46,000 feet) high.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00933" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00933: MGS Approach Image - 217.4° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00933: MGS Approach Image - 217.4° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00933: MGS Approach Image - 217.4° W longitude
<h1>PIA00934: MGS Approach Image - 307.3° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00934" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This image was acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) on August 20, 1997, when MGS was 5.51 million kilometers (3.42 million miles) and 22 days from encounter. At this distance, the MOC's resolution is about 20.6 km per picture element, and the 6800 km (4200 mile) diameter planet is about 330 pixels across. North is at the top of the image. The MGS spacecraft pointed the camera at the center of the planet (near the dark, morning sunrise line, or terminator) at 23.6° N, 307.3° W. The irregularity of the terminator seen in this image results from contrast processing. This image shows the prominent dark feature Syrtis Major, believed to be a relatively dust-free area of bedrock outcrop and sand dunes. The large Hellas impact basin (2000 km or 1250 miles across) is seen at the bottom of the picture. Clouds from the south polar region fill the basin. The north polar residual ice cap, surrounded by a dark annulus of sand, is seen at the top of the picture.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00934" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00934: MGS Approach Image - 307.3° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00934: MGS Approach Image - 307.3° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00934: MGS Approach Image - 307.3° W longitude
<h1>PIA00935: MGS Approach Image - 37.2° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00935" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This image of Mars shows an area centered near the Pathfinder landing site. The dark area north of the center of the image along the sunrise terminator is Acidalia Planitia--the Pathfinder landing site is about a third of the way down from this dark area across the light Chryse plains. The bright area near the edge of the planet is Arabia. The lower 40% of the image contains the Xanthe, Margaritifer, and Meridiani highlands, heavily-cratered, ancient areas of the most intense erosion seen on Mars. These will be among the more important targets of the MOC when it begins detailed studies in March 1998.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00935" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00935: MGS Approach Image - 37.2° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00935: MGS Approach Image - 37.2° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00935: MGS Approach Image - 37.2° W longitude
<h1>PIA00936: MGS Approach Image - 127.2° W longitude</h1><div class="PIA00936" lang="en" style="width:512px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;">This image, the last in sequence of 8 taken by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft prior to its arrival at Mars on September 11, 1997, shows a spectacular view of the large volcano, Olympus Mons, very close to the morning sunrise line (called the terminator). Taken early in the morning of August 21, the view clearly shows the summit crater (the caldera) and the 3,000 m (9,800 feet) high escarpment that surrounds the base of the 25,000 meter (82,000 feet) high, 550 km (340 mile) wide volcano. To the right of Olympus Mons are three other large volcanoes (Ascraeus Mons, top; Pavonis Mons, middle; Arsia Mons, bottom). The image is centered near 23.6° N, 127.2° W, and was acquired when MGS was 5.38 million kilometers (3.34 million miles) from Mars. At this distance, the MOC's resolution is about 20 km per picture element, and the 6800 km (4200 mile) diameter planet is about 340 pixels across. In the 46 hours between the first and last images in the sequence, the diameter of Mars in the pictures grew by almost 10%.<p>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, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00936" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA00936: MGS Approach Image - 127.2° W longitude sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA00936: MGS Approach Image - 127.2° W longitude sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA00936: MGS Approach Image - 127.2° W longitude
  

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