Mapping Mars
Explanation:
This month, the
Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft
began its primary mission to the red planet.
Orbiting about once every two hours at an altitude of
over 200 miles,
instruments onboard MGS now regularly
explore the Martian surface and atmosphere.
This MGS polar mapping orbit was set up to achieve a
favorable "afternoon" sun-angle for imaging as the spacecraft
crosses over the day side of the planet.
Mars' rotation will allow complete coverage of the surface
roughly once every week with mapping operations planned
for one Martian year (687 Earth days).
These two opposite hemisphere views of Mars
were pieced together from MGS wide-angle camera scans made
in early March (blue and red lines mark the scan edges).
Water-ice clouds can be seen hovering over the surface while
the north polar cap
is visible at the top of each image.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
