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09-Apr-2008
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NASA Spacecraft Images Mars Moon in Color and in 3D
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Phobos from 6,800 Kilometers (Color)
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008. This is the first, taken from a distance of about 6,800 kilometers (about 4,200 miles). It is presented in color by combining data from the camera's blue-green, red, and near-infrared channels.
The illuminated part of Phobos seen in the images is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) across. The most prominent feature in the images is the large crater Stickney in the lower right. With a diameter of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), it is the largest feature on Phobos.
The color data accentuate details not apparent in black-and-white images. For example, materials near the rim of Stickney appear bluer than the rest of Phobos. Based on analogy with materials on our own moon, this could mean this surface is fresher, and therefore younger, than other parts of Phobos.
A series of troughs and crater chains is obvious on other parts of the moon. Although many appear radial to Stickney in this image, recent studies from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter indicate that they are not related to Stickney. Instead, they may have formed when material ejected from impacts on Mars later collided with Phobos. The lineated textures on the walls of Stickney and other large craters are landslides formed from materials falling into the crater interiors in the weak Phobos gravity (less than one one-thousandth of the gravity on Earth).
In the full-resolution version of this image, a pixel encompasses 6.8 meters (22 feet), providing a resolution (smallest visible feature) of about 20 meters (about 65 feet). The image is in the HiRISE catalog as PSP_007769_9010.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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Phobos from 5,800 Kilometers (Color)
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008. This is the second, taken from a distance of about 5,800 kilometers (about 3,600 miles). It is presented in color by combining data from the camera's blue-green, red, and near-infrared channels.
The illuminated part of Phobos seen in the images is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) across. The most prominent feature in the images is the large crater Stickney in the lower right. With a diameter of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), it is the largest feature on Phobos.
The color data accentuate details not apparent in black-and-white images. For example, materials near the rim of Stickney appear bluer than the rest of Phobos. Based on analogy with materials on our own moon, this could mean this surface is fresher, and therefore younger, than other parts of Phobos.
A series of troughs and crater chains is obvious on other parts of the moon. Although many appear radial to Stickney in this image, recent studies from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter indicate that they are not related to Stickney. Instead, they may have formed when material ejected from impacts on Mars later collided with Phobos. The lineated textures on the walls of Stickney and other large craters are landslides formed from materials falling into the crater interiors in the weak Phobos gravity (less than one one-thousandth of the gravity on Earth).
In the full-resolution version of this image, a pixel encompasses 5.8 meters (19 feet), providing a resolution (smallest visible feature) of about 15 meters (about 50 feet). Previous pictures from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor are of slightly higher resolution, at 4 meters (13 feet) per pixel. However, the HiRISE images have higher signal-to-noise, making the new data some of the best ever for Phobos. This image is in the HiRISE catalog as PSP_007769_9015.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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Phobos from 6,800 Kilometers
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008. This is the first, taken from a distance of about 6,800 kilometers (about 4,200 miles). The illuminated part of Phobos seen in the images is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) across.
The most prominent feature in the images is the large crater Stickney in the lower right. With a diameter of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), it is the largest feature on Phobos. A series of troughs and crater chains is obvious on other parts of the moon. Although many appear radial to Stickney in this image, recent studies from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter indicate that they are not related to Stickney. Instead, they may have formed when material ejected from impacts on Mars later collided with Phobos. The lineated textures on the walls of Stickney and other large craters are landslides formed from materials falling into the crater interiors in the weak Phobos gravity (less than one one-thousandth of the gravity on Earth).
In the full-resolution version of this image, a pixel encompasses 6.8 meters (22 feet), providing a resolution (smallest visible feature) of about 20 meters (about 65 feet). Although the image is displayed here in black and white, data from HiRISE's three color channels were used to give higher signal-to-noise, thereby increasing detail. The image is in the HiRISE catalog as PSP_007769_9010.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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Phobos from 5,800 Kilometers
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008. This is the second, taken from a distance of about 5,800 kilometers (about 3,600 miles). The illuminated part of Phobos seen in the images is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) across.
The most prominent feature in the images is the large crater Stickney in the lower right. With a diameter of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), it is the largest feature on Phobos. A series of troughs and crater chains is obvious on other parts of the moon. Although many appear radial to Stickney in this image, recent studies from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter indicate that they are not related to Stickney. Instead, they may have formed when material ejected from impacts on Mars later collided with Phobos. The lineated textures on the walls of Stickney and other large craters are landslides formed from materials falling into the crater interiors in the weak Phobos gravity (less than one one-thousandth of the gravity on Earth).
In the full-resolution version of this image, a pixel encompasses 5.8 meters (19 feet), providing a resolution (smallest visible feature) of about 15 meters (about 50 feet). Previous pictures from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor are of slightly higher resolution, at 4 meters (13 feet) per pixel. However, the HiRISE images have higher signal-to-noise, making the new data some of the best ever for Phobos.
Although the image is displayed here in black and white, data from HiRISE's three color channels were used to give higher signal-to-noise, thereby increasing detail. The image is in the HiRISE catalog as PSP_007769_9015.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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'Marsshine' on Shadowed Part of Phobos
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008. This is a portion of the second one, enhanced to bring out detail in areas of Phobos that were not illuminated by the sun when the image was taken. Craters are visible due to faint illumination from reflected light off of Mars ("Marsshine"). This is directly analogous to "Earthshine," the reflected sunlight from our planet that illuminates the dark side of Earth's moon. The enhancement to show details in the shadows also washes out detail in the sunlit areas in the lower portion of the image.
The ability to see features on Phobos illuminated by Marsshine demonstrates the high sensitivity of the HiRISE camera. This image is in the HiRISE catalog as PSP_007769_9015.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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Phobos in Stereo
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008. This view combines the two images. Because the two were taken at slightly different viewing angles, this provides a three-dimensional effect when seen through red-blue glasses (red on left eye).
The illuminated part of Phobos seen here is about 21 kilometers (13 miles) across. The most prominent feature is the large crater Stickney at the bottom of the image. With a diameter of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), it is the largest feature on Phobos. A series of troughs and crater chains is obvious on other parts of the moon. Although many appear radial to Stickney in this image, recent studies from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter indicate that they are not related to Stickney. Instead, they may have formed when material ejected from impacts on Mars later collided with Phobos. The lineated textures on the walls of Stickney and other large craters are landslides formed from materials falling into the crater interiors in the weak Phobos gravity (less than one one-thousandth of the gravity on Earth).
This stereo view combines images in the HiRISE catalog as PSP_007769_9010 (in red here) and PSP_007769_9015 (in blue here).
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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