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04-APR-98 4:00 PM PST

The Mars Global Surveyor flight team and camera operators may have been successful in placing the site of the Viking Lander 2 within the field of view of the MGS Mars Orbiter Camera on the second of four attempts to image sites of interest on the surface of Mars. Like the atmospheric conditions in Pasadena, CA, today, Utopia Planitia, the location of the Viking Lander 2, was heavily overcast when the image was recorded shortly in early afternoon, Pacific time, yesterday. The Mars Orbiter Camera team reports that because of the surface obscuration, the location of the image with respect to surface features is problematic. It is believed, however, that the Viking-era landing location and one of its more recently estimated locations are within the lower portion of the image. Knowledge of the Viking Lander 2 site is the least well established of the targets that Global Surveyor is attempting to photograph. Analysis of the results of these first images will help the project team with the future imaging attempts.