Subsection of Nirgal Vallis Image
This image is a subsection of the MGS Nirgal Vallis "B" image (PIA00942).
This subsection of frame P006_05 is shown here at reduced
resolution because the full image is almost 7 MBytes in size. Because
the MOC acquires its images one line at a time, the cant angle
towards the sun-lit portion of the planet, the spacecraft orbital
velocity, and the spacecraft rotational velocity combined to significantly
distort the image. However, even in this reduced resolution version,
dunes can be seen in the canyon and in areas on the upland surface
around the canyon.
Nigral Vallis is one of a number of canyons called valley networks
or runoff channels. Much of the debate concerning the origin of
these valleys centers on whether they were formed by water flowing
across the surface, or by collapse and upslope erosion associated
with groundwater processes. At the resolution of this image, it is
just barely possible to discern an interwoven pattern of lines on the
highland surrounding the valley, but it is not possible to tell whether
this is a pattern of surficial debris (sand or dust), as might be
expected with the amount of crater burial seen, or a pattern of
drainage channels. With 4X better resolution from its mapping orbit,
MOC should easily be able to tell the difference between these two possibilities.
Launched on November 7, 1996, Mars Global Surveyor entered Mars
orbit on Thursday, September 11, 1997. The spacecraft has been
using atmospheric drag to reduce the size of its orbit for the past
three weeks, and will achieve a circular orbit only 400 km (248 mi)
above the surface early next year. Mapping operations begin in
March 1998. At that time, MOC narrow angle images will be 5-10
times higher resolution than these pictures.
Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology
built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission.
MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego, CA.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Surveyor Operations Project
operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial
partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena,
CA and Denver, CO.
Photo Credit: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
MRPS #84722 100297_7 605.crp, a subsection of 605.str/MOC212B 559303731.605 P006_05
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