Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Orbiter Camera
Syrtis Major and Arabia Terra, Mars
MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-117, 11 April 1999
The Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) has, in fact, three
cameras. The narrow angle system obtains monochrome (black-and-white)
super-high resolution views of the red planet, while the wide angle
system obtains regional and global views in both the red and blue portions
of the visible spectrum (to make a color image, the red and blue are
averaged to obtain the green channel). The picture shown here
is a composite of 9 color strips taken by the MOC on 9 successive orbits
from pole-to-pole over the planet during the calibration phase of the
mission in March 1999. The large, circular bright region that dominates
the scene is Arabia Terra. Syrtis Major is the dark region toward
the lower right. The north polar cap is visible at the top, and the
bright feature at the lower right is the Hellas Basin. The color in
this picture is computer-enhanced and is not shown as it would
actually appear to the human eye.
Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of
Technology built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer
mission. MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego,
CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Surveyor Operations Project
operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial
partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA
and Denver, CO.
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Contact: info@msss.com