- Original Caption Released with Image:
-
13 November 2006
These images capture what Mars typically looks like in mid-afternoon at
Ls 137°. In other words, with the exception of occasional differences
in weather and polar frost patterns, this is what the red planet looks
like this month (November 2006).
Six views are shown, including the two polar regions. These are composites
of 24-26 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) daily global
mapping images acquired at red and blue wavelengths. The 'hole' over the
south pole is an area where no images were obtained, because this polar
region is enveloped in wintertime darkness.
Presently, it is summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the
southern hemisphere. Ls, solar longitude, is a measure of the time of year
on Mars. Mars travels 360° around the Sun in 1 Mars year. The year begins
at Ls 0°, the start of northern spring and southern autumn. Northern
summer/southern winter begins at Ls 90°, northern autumn/southern spring
start at Ls 180°, and northern winter/southern summer begin at Ls 270°.
Ls 137° occurs in the middle of this
month (November 2006). The pictures show how Mars appeared to the MOC wide
angle cameras at a previous Ls 137° in March 2001. The six views are
centered on the Tharsis region (upper left), Acidalia and Mare Eyrthraeum
(upper right), Syrtis Major and Hellas (middle left), Elysium and Mare
Cimmeria (middle right), the north pole (lower left), and the south pole
(lower right).
- Image Credit:
-
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Image Addition Date: -
2006-11-13
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