PIA02335: Thermal Wave Phenomena
 Target Name:  Mars
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Global Surveyor (MGS)
 Spacecraft:  Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter
 Instrument:  Mars Horizon Sensor Assembly 
 Product Size:  960 x 480 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  JPL
 Producer ID:  P50567 MRPS95251
 Addition Date:  1999-09-18
 Primary Data Set:  MGS EDRs
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA02335.tif (168.1 kB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA02335.jpg (191.6 kB)

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

This map from the MGS Horizon Sensor Assembly (HORSE) shows middle atmospheric temperatures near the 1 mbar level of Mars between Ls 170 to 175 (approx. July 14 - 23, 1999). Local Mars times between 1:30 and 4:30 AM are included. Infrared radiation measured by the Mars Horizon Sensor Assembly was used to make the map. That device continuously views the "limb" of Mars in four directions, to help orient the spacecraft instruments to the nadir: straight down.

The map shows thermal wave phenomena that are caused by the large topographic variety of Mars' surface, as well the latitudinally symmetric behavior expected at this time of year near the equinox.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:
1999-09-18