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Pits Near Rhabon Valles
PIA06329
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Pits Near Rhabon Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
25 June 2004 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a series of pits running down the center of a broad, shallow trough called a "graben". On Mars, many such troughs, and attendant pits, are the result of geologic forces that extended the crust as the Tharsis region of Mars bulged outward to form what is known as, well, the Tharsis Bulge. This graben and pit chain are located near the Rhabon Valles around 23.8°N, 92.3°W. The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide, sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left. |
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Bedforms in Maja Valles
PIA06925
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Bedforms in Maja Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
8 October 2004 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows large, light-toned, ripple-like windblown bedforms in a portion of the giant flood channel complex, Maja Valles. Ripples such as these are very common on Mars but not very well understood. They are larger than most ripples on Earth, and smaller than typical dunes. They are usually old, and probably immobile, features. Sometimes, larger, dark sand dunes are seen riding over them (although that is not the case here). If similarly-sized ripples were to be investigated by a Mars rover, they would probably provide critical information that would help determine the nature of bedforms like these all over Mars. The Maja Valles scene shown here is located near 17.7°N, 54.8°W, and covers an area about 1.4 km (0.9 mi) wide. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left. |
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Valles Marineris Features
PIA06943
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Valles Marineris Features |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
17 October 2004 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows light-toned, ripple-like, windblown bedforms and ridges with dark talus accumulations on their slopes in the western portion of the vast Valles Marineris trough system. These features are located near Oudemans Crater around 7.6°S, 91.2°W. The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide and sunlight illuminates the scene from the upper left. |
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Multiple Channels in Warrego
…
PIA05662
Sol (our sun)
Thermal Emission Imaging Sys
…
| Title |
Multiple Channels in Warrego Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Released 26 March 2004 The Odyssey spacecraft has completed a full Mars year of observations of the red planet. For the next several weeks the Image of the Day will look back over this first mars year. It will focus on four themes: 1) the poles - with the seasonal changes seen in the retreat and expansion of the caps, 2) craters - with a variety of morphologies relating to impact materials and later alteration, both infilling and exhumation, 3) channels - the clues to liquid surface flow, and 4) volcanic flow features. While some images have helped answer questions about the history of Mars, many have raised new questions that are still being investigated as Odyssey continues collecting data as it orbits Mars. The image shows an area in the Warrego Valles region. It was collected July 6, 2003 during northern summer season. The local time is 5pm. The image shows multiple channels dissecting the terrain. With this image, the 448th, the THEMIS Image of the Day completes its second (Earth) year. (The first image, of Nirgal Vallis [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03756 ], was released on 27 March 2002.) On behalf of the THEMIS team, we'd like to thank you for your continued interest and we hope you continue to come back through our third year and beyond. Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude -42.3, Longitude 267.5 East (92.5 West). 19 meter/pixel resolution. Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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Multiple Channels in Warrego
…
PIA05662
Sol (our sun)
Thermal Emission Imaging Sys
…
| Title |
Multiple Channels in Warrego Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Released 26 March 2004 The Odyssey spacecraft has completed a full Mars year of observations of the red planet. For the next several weeks the Image of the Day will look back over this first mars year. It will focus on four themes: 1) the poles - with the seasonal changes seen in the retreat and expansion of the caps, 2) craters - with a variety of morphologies relating to impact materials and later alteration, both infilling and exhumation, 3) channels - the clues to liquid surface flow, and 4) volcanic flow features. While some images have helped answer questions about the history of Mars, many have raised new questions that are still being investigated as Odyssey continues collecting data as it orbits Mars. The image shows an area in the Warrego Valles region. It was collected July 6, 2003 during northern summer season. The local time is 5pm. The image shows multiple channels dissecting the terrain. With this image, the 448th, the THEMIS Image of the Day completes its second (Earth) year. (The first image, of Nirgal Vallis [ http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03756 ], was released on 27 March 2002.) On behalf of the THEMIS team, we'd like to thank you for your continued interest and we hope you continue to come back through our third year and beyond. Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude -42.3, Longitude 267.5 East (92.5 West). 19 meter/pixel resolution. Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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Kasei Valles
PIA06372
Sol (our sun)
Thermal Emission Imaging Sys
…
| Title |
Kasei Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Released 2 June 2004This image was collected July 17, 2002 during northern spring season. The local time at the image location was about 4 pm. The image shows an area in the Kasei Valles region. The THEMIS VIS camera is capable of capturing color images of the martian surface using its five different color filters. In this mode of operation, the spatial resolution and coverage of the image must be reduced to accommodate the additional data volume produced from the use of multiple filters. To make a color image, three of the five filter images (each in grayscale) are selected. Each is contrast enhanced and then converted to a red, green, or blue intensity image. These three images are then combined to produce a full color, single image. Because the THEMIS color filters don't span the full range of colors seen by the human eye, a color THEMIS image does not represent true color. Also, because each single-filter image is contrast enhanced before inclusion in the three-color image, the apparent color variation of the scene is exaggerated. Nevertheless, the color variation that does appear is representative of some change in color, however subtle, in the actual scene. Note that the long edges of THEMIS color images typically contain color artifacts that do not represent surface variation. Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude 25.3, Longitude 298.8 East (61.2 West). 38 meter/pixel resolution. Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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Kasei Valles
PIA06372
Sol (our sun)
Thermal Emission Imaging Sys
…
| Title |
Kasei Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Released 2 June 2004This image was collected July 17, 2002 during northern spring season. The local time at the image location was about 4 pm. The image shows an area in the Kasei Valles region. The THEMIS VIS camera is capable of capturing color images of the martian surface using its five different color filters. In this mode of operation, the spatial resolution and coverage of the image must be reduced to accommodate the additional data volume produced from the use of multiple filters. To make a color image, three of the five filter images (each in grayscale) are selected. Each is contrast enhanced and then converted to a red, green, or blue intensity image. These three images are then combined to produce a full color, single image. Because the THEMIS color filters don't span the full range of colors seen by the human eye, a color THEMIS image does not represent true color. Also, because each single-filter image is contrast enhanced before inclusion in the three-color image, the apparent color variation of the scene is exaggerated. Nevertheless, the color variation that does appear is representative of some change in color, however subtle, in the actual scene. Note that the long edges of THEMIS color images typically contain color artifacts that do not represent surface variation. Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude 25.3, Longitude 298.8 East (61.2 West). 38 meter/pixel resolution. Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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Ares Valles: Night and Day
PIA06394
Sol (our sun)
Thermal Emission Imaging Sys
…
| Title |
Ares Valles: Night and Day |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Released 15 June 2004This pair of images shows part of the Ares Valles region. Day/Night Infrared Pairs The image pairs presented focus on a single surface feature as seen in both the daytime and nighttime by the infrared THEMIS camera. The nighttime image (right) has been rotated 180 degrees to place north at the top. Infrared image interpretation "Daytime:"Infrared images taken during the daytime exhibit both the morphological and thermophysical properties of the surface of Mars. Morphologic details are visible due to the effect of sun-facing slopes receiving more energy than antisun-facing slopes. This creates a warm (bright) slope and cool (dark) slope appearance that mimics the light and shadows of a visible wavelength image. Thermophysical properties are seen in that dust heats up more quickly than rocks. Thus dusty areas are bright and rocky areas are dark. "Nighttime:"Infrared images taken during the nighttime exhibit only the thermophysical properties of the surface of Mars. The effect of sun-facing versus non-sun-facing energy dissipates quickly at night. Thermophysical effects dominate as different surfaces cool at different rates through the nighttime hours. Rocks cool slowly, and are therefore relatively bright at night (remember that rocks are dark during the day). Dust and other fine grained materials cool very quickly and are dark in nighttime infrared images. Image information: IR instrument. Latitude 3.6, Longitude 339.9 East (20.1 West). 100 meter/pixel resolution. Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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Ares Valles: Night and Day
PIA06394
Sol (our sun)
Thermal Emission Imaging Sys
…
| Title |
Ares Valles: Night and Day |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
Released 15 June 2004This pair of images shows part of the Ares Valles region. Day/Night Infrared Pairs The image pairs presented focus on a single surface feature as seen in both the daytime and nighttime by the infrared THEMIS camera. The nighttime image (right) has been rotated 180 degrees to place north at the top. Infrared image interpretation "Daytime:"Infrared images taken during the daytime exhibit both the morphological and thermophysical properties of the surface of Mars. Morphologic details are visible due to the effect of sun-facing slopes receiving more energy than antisun-facing slopes. This creates a warm (bright) slope and cool (dark) slope appearance that mimics the light and shadows of a visible wavelength image. Thermophysical properties are seen in that dust heats up more quickly than rocks. Thus dusty areas are bright and rocky areas are dark. "Nighttime:"Infrared images taken during the nighttime exhibit only the thermophysical properties of the surface of Mars. The effect of sun-facing versus non-sun-facing energy dissipates quickly at night. Thermophysical effects dominate as different surfaces cool at different rates through the nighttime hours. Rocks cool slowly, and are therefore relatively bright at night (remember that rocks are dark during the day). Dust and other fine grained materials cool very quickly and are dark in nighttime infrared images. Image information: IR instrument. Latitude 3.6, Longitude 339.9 East (20.1 West). 100 meter/pixel resolution. Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. |
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Warrego Valles
PIA06899
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Warrego Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
3 October 2004 When viewed at 100 to 300 meters per pixel in old Mariner 9 and Viking orbiter images, Warrego Valles appears to be a grouping of intricately-carved networks of branching valleys. This region has often been used as the type example of martian valley networks, and key evidence that Mars may have once been warmer, wetter, and perhaps had precipitation in the form of rain or snow. However, when viewed at very high resolution (1.5 to 4.5 meters per pixel) with the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), the Warrego valleys break down into a series of vaguely continuous (in other words, not necessarily connected to each other) troughs that have been covered and partially filled by a material that has eroded to form a very rough-textured surface. None of the original valley floor or wall features are visible because of this rough-textured mantle, and thus very little can be said regarding whether the valleys represent the results of persistent flow and precipitation runoff. Despite the MOC observations and the relatively unique nature of these valleys relative to other valley networks on Mars, the Warrego Valles continue to be used by many as an example of typical martian valley networks. The picture shown here is a mosaic of three MOC narrow angle images obtained in 1999 and 2004: M07-02071, R15-00492, and R15-02626. The dark bar near the bottom center is the location of a data drop, lost during transmission. The 1 km scale bar is approximately equal to 0.62 miles. Sunlight illuminates the images from the upper left, north is up, and the scene is located near 42.4°S, 93.5°W. |
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Features in Granicus Valles
PIA06293
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Features in Granicus Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
3 June 2004 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a high resolution view (nearly 1.8 meters, 6 feet per pixel) of landforms in the Granicus Valles region, west of the Elysium volcanoes. Layered rock and some large, dark boulders are among the features observed. The image is located near 27.4°N, 224.8°W, and covers an area only 1.1 km (0.7 mi) across. The scene is illuminated by sunlight from the lower left. |
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Granicus Valles
PIA05210
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Granicus Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
15 January 2004 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows some of the troughs of the Granicus Valles system, located west of the Elysium volcanic rise near 27.1°N, 224.0°W. The floors exhibit abundant large ripple-like features deposited and shaped by wind. The dark dots on the valley floors are large boulders. The image covers an area approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) wide, sunlight illuminates the scene from the left. |
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Marte Valles Crater "Island
PIA05739
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Marte Valles Crater "Island |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
10 April 2004 Marte Valles is an outflow channel system that straddles 180°W longitude between the region south of Cerberus and far northwestern Amazonis. The floor of the Marte valleys have enigmatic platy flow features that some argue are formed by lava, others suggest they are remnants of mud flows. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows an island created in the middle of the main Marte Valles channel as fluid---whether lava or mud---flowed past two older meteor impact craters. The craters are located near 21.5°N, 175.3°W. The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) across. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left. |
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Mesa in Granicus Valles
PIA05763
Sol (our sun)
Mars Orbiter Camera
| Title |
Mesa in Granicus Valles |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
15 April 2004 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a mesa left standing when erosion created the Granicus Valles system, located west of the Elysium volcanoes near 27.8°N, 224.3°W. Dark dots at the base of the mesa's slopes and on the valley floor are large boulders. The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) across. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left. |
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