PIA04738: Layers in Gale Crater
NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows some of the layered, sedimentary rock outcrops exposed on a mound in Gale Crater on Mars.
 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:  837 x 1255 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  Malin Space Science Systems 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA04738.tif (1.052 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA04738.jpg (169.5 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:

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-480, 11 September 2003

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows some of the layered, sedimentary rock outcrops exposed on a mound in Gale Crater near 5.0°S, 221.8°W. These layers represent a long history of sedimentation that occurred in Gale Crater at some time in the distant martian past. Later, these layers were eroded and exposed. Gale Crater may once have been completely filled by these layered materials. The picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is illuminated by sunlight from the left.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Image Addition Date:
2003-09-12