Mars - Mars Global Surveyor
Evidence for Ponding in a Martian Crater
This image shows a crater in the southern hemisphere of Mars
(65 S, 15 W) which shows some evidence that it may once have
held a small lake. It is thought the dark channels at the
rim of the crater (to the left of the frame) is suggestive
of seepage of fluid into the crater and the dark floor
material may represent sediment transported into the crater
by the seeping water. The contact between the dark floor
material and the lighter material shows what may be
evidence of bays and peninsulas. However, it is also
possible that these features are a result of fluid lava
flows. Note the dunes visible in the dark material. The
image was taken during southern spring in the early
afternoon, local solar time, the frame is approximately
25 x 30 km and north is up.
(Mars Global Surveyor, MRPS88923)
Larger image:
High resolution tiff file (1.2 Mb)
Location & Time Information
Date/Time (UT): 1997-12-29 T 21:19:17
Distance/Range (km): 3287.97
Central Latitude/Longitude (deg): -65.1, 15.1 W
Orbit(s): 77
Imaging Information
Area or Feature Type: crater
Instrument: Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
Instrument Resolution (pixels): 2048 line array, 8-bit
Instrument Field of View (deg): 0.4
Filter: N/A
Illumination Incidence Angle (deg): 45.31
Phase Angle (deg): 26.65
Instrument Look Direction: N/A
Surface Emission Angle (deg): 37.23
Ordering Information
CD-ROM Volume: MGSC_0002
NASA Image ID number: MRPS88923
Other Image ID number:
NSSDC Data Set ID (Photo): XD-12A
NSSDC Data Set ID (CD): 96-062A-01A (raw image)
Other ID: P-49922
Updated 23 May 2003, DRW.
