PIA04163: Sediments of Arabia
NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows the floor of a crater in western Arabia Terra. Martian sediment in two basic forms: (1) light-toned, layered, sedimentary rock outcrops and (2) dark, windblown sand dunes.
 Target Name:  Mars
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) 
 Spacecraft:  Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter
 Instrument:  Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) 
 Product Size:  836 x 1554 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  Malin Space Science Systems 
 Producer ID:  MOC2-1190  
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA04163.tif (1.301 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA04163.jpg (159.4 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:

21 August 2005
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows martian sediment in two basic forms: (1) light-toned, layered, sedimentary rock outcrops and (2) dark, windblown sand dunes. The dark sand of the dunes is most likely composed of grains rich in iron-, magnesium-, aluminum-, and silicon-bearing minerals. The hills and mounds of layered sedimentary rock were once more extensive, covering the entire scene shown here, which occurs on the floor of a crater in western Arabia Terra.

Location near: 8.9°N, 1.2°W
Image width: width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from: lower left
Season: Northern Autumn

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Image Addition Date:
2005-08-21