NATIONAL  AERONAUTICS  AND  SPACE  ADMINISTRATION
VIKING  NEWS  CENTER
PASADENA,  CALIFORNIA
(213) 354-6000

Viking 1-61
(35A72)



PHOTO CAPTION

This picture is one of many taken in the northern latitudes of Mars by
the Viking 1 Orbiter in search of a landing site for Viking 2.

The speckled appearance of the image is due to bit errors,
emphasized by enlargement of the photo.  The picture was taken on July
25, 1976 from a range of 1873 kilometers (1162 miles).