National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology
Malin Space Science Systems

		JPL Photograph Number               P-42748

		Mars Observer Camera Release Number      MOC-1
		Mars Observer Camera Image ID      428212370.3

		Release Date	   August 6, 1993

Photo Caption

Photograph of the planet Mars taken 8:52 PM PDT on July 26, 
1993 by the high resolution, narrow-angle telescope of the 
Mars Observer Camera (MOC).  At that time, the Mars Observer 
spacecraft was 5.8 million kilometers (3.6 million miles) and 
28 days from its encounter with Mars.  The resolution in this 
image is approximately 21.5 km (13.4 mi) per picture element 
and Mars, roughly 6800 km (4200 miles) in diameter, is about 
315 picture elements across.  North is to the top of the 
image; the south pole is near the bottom but in shadow.  The 
sunrise line (terminator) stretches across the morning 
hemisphere from lower right to upper left.  At this distance 
from Mars, only bright and dark markings resulting from 
variations in the amount and thickness of dust and sand are 
visible.  Toward the bottom of the picture is a bright, 
roughly circular area called Hellas, an impact basin 2000 km 
(1250 mi) across.  The dark area in the center of the frame 
is Syrtis Major, a region of volcanic plains and dark sand 
dunes.  At the top of the photograph is Nilosyrtis, an area 
of buttes, mesas, and box canyons reminiscent of the deserts 
of the southwest United States.  Launched in September 1992, 
Mars Observer will enter Mars orbit on Tuesday, August 24, at 
about 1:30 PM PDT.  In-orbit engineering checkout of the 
camera is scheduled to begin September 16.  The camera and 
six other investigations begin mapping operations from a 
circular orbit only 400 km (248 mi) above the surface on 
December 16.  The Mars Observer Project is managed for NASA 
by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA.  The Mars 
Observer Camera was developed by and is operated under 
contract to JPL by an industry/university team led by Malin 
Space Science Systems, San Diego, CA.