All of Mars
Explanation:
From
pole to
pole, from east to west,
this is all of
Mars.
The
above picture was digitally reconstructed
from over 200 million
laser altimeter measurements taken by the
Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft currently orbiting
Mars.
The image strips
Mars
of its
clouds and
dust,
and renders the whole surface visible
simultaneously in its true daytime color.
Particularly notable are the
volcanoes of the
Tharsis province, visible on the left,
which are taller than any mountains on Earth.
Just to the left of center is
Valles Marineris, a canyon much longer and deeper
Earth's Grand Canyon.
On the right, south of the center, is the
Hellas Planitia, a basin over
2000 kilometers wide that was likely created by a
collision with an asteroid.
Mars has many smooth lowlands in the north,
and many rough highlands in the south.
Mars has just passed its closest approach
to Earth since 1988 and can be seen shining brightly in the
evening sky.
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.
