PIA00394: Magnetic Particles Are Found In The Martian Atmosphere
Magnetic Particles Are Found In The Martian Atmosphere
Target Name: Mars
Is a satellite of: Sol (our sun)
Mission: Viking
Spacecraft: Viking Lander 1
Instrument: Camera 2
Product Size: 272 samples x 386 lines
Produced By: JPL
Producer ID: P17437
Addition Date: 1996-12-12
Primary Data Set: Viking EDRs
Full-Res TIFF: PIA00394.tif (56.71 kB)
Full-Res JPEG: PIA00394.jpg (8.668 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:
The dark bullseye pattern seen at the top of Viking l's camera calibration chart indicates the presence of magnetic particles in the fine dust in the Martian atmosphere. A tiny magnet is mounted at that spot to catch wind-borne magnetic particles. The particles may have been tossed into the atmosphere surrounding the spacecraft at the time of landing and during the digging and delivery of the Mars soil sample by the surface sampler scoop. This picture was taken August 4.
Image Credit:
NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:
1996-12-12