Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera
A Valley in the Libya Montes
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-227, 22 May 2000
This Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera narrow angle image
(above left) shows an intermountain
valley floor in the Libya Montes region of Mars. Its regional
setting is seen in the wide angle color mosaic on the right (above).
The Libya Montes were
formed by the giant impact that created the ancient Isidis basin. The
Libya mountains and valleys--like the one shown here--were subsequently
modified and eroded by other processes,
including wind, impact cratering, and flow of liquid water to make the
small valley that runs across the middle of the scene. Until the mission
was canceled, the Libya Montes region was among the top two candidates
for the Mars Surveyor 2001 lander.
This image,
illuminated by sunlight from the left, covers an area 3 kilometers
(1.9 miles) wide and 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) long. The scene is located
near 1.5°N, 278.4°W and was acquired on June 27, 1999.
The high resolution color view (above left) was created by combining
the colors derived from Mars Orbiter Camera Wide Angle views of the region
obtained in May 1999 with the high resolution view obtained in June 1999.
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Images Credit: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
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's Mars Surveyor Operations Project
operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial
partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA
and Denver, CO.
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