Mars - Viking 1 Orbiter

High altitude cloud and shadow south of Valles Marineris, Mars

Mars
Viking 1 Orbiter obtained this image of a high-altitude cloud and its shadow south of Valles Marineris, Mars. The cloud is about 100 km long, and about 50 km high, as estimated from the sun angle and position of its shadow to the right. This altitude indicates the cloud is probably composed of carbon dioxide. The local time is late afternoon (15:27). The frame is 250 km across and north is up. (Viking Orbiter 318A24)
Larger image:

High resolution tiff file (1.0 Mb)

Location & Time Information
Date/Time (UT): 1977-05-03 T 03:30:26
Distance/Range (km): 8193.1
Central Latitude/Longitude (deg): -21.65/043.04
Orbit(s): 318

Imaging Information
Area or Feature Type: Cloud
Instrument: Visual Imaging Subsystem - Camera B
Instrument Resolution (pixels): 1056 x 1182, 7 bit
Instrument Field of View (deg): 1.54 x 1.69
Filter: Clear (4)
Illumination Incidence Angle (deg): 47.54
Phase Angle (deg): 39.43
Instrument Look Direction: N/A
Surface Emission Angle (deg): 10.47

Ordering Information
CD-ROM Volume: VO_1015
NASA Image ID number: 318A24
Other Image ID number: 32017041
NSSDC Data Set ID (Photo): 75-075A-01B
NSSDC Data Set ID (CD): 75-075A-01c
Other ID: N/A

Updated 20 May 2003, DRW.