PIA08713: Shadows Draw Attention to Features of Mars Landscape (Sand Ripples)


Shadows Draw Attention to Features of Mars Landscape (Sand Ripples)

Caption:

Taking advantage of lengthening shadows during the onset of winter and at different times of day, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit acquired this series of images accentuating subtle features in the terrain. Images acquired at low sun angles allow scientists to better understand differences in surface roughness among soils and rocks. Variations in how brightly sunlight reflects off surfaces under different lighting conditions help scientists estimate the microscopic physical characteristics of the mineral grains in different rocks and soils.

Spirit acquired these sets of images at different local true solar times (LTST) on martian days, known as sols, 930 (Aug. 15, 2006), 931 (Aug. 16, 2006), and 935 (Aug. 20, 2006) using the 601-nanometer filter of the panoramic camera. Spirit acquired the single-frame images of sand ripples with the panoramic camera turned to an azimuth of 290 degrees (west-northwest).

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Instrument Host Spirit (MER-A)
Host Type Rover
Instrument Panoramic Camera (Pancam)
Detector
Extra Keywords Grayscale, Shadow
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2006-08-30
Date in Caption 2006-08-15 2006-08-16, 2006-08-20
Image Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08713
Identifier PIA08713