PIA09619: Sample Tharsis Tholus Caldera Wall


Sample Tharsis Tholus Caldera Wall

Caption:

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This HiRISE image ( PSP_002169_1940 ) captures one of the cleaner portions of the interior wall of the caldera at the top of Tharsis Tholus.

Tharsis Tholus is an intermediate sized shield volcano, much smaller than giants such as Olympus Mons, but still large by terrestrial standards. While relatively dust-free, this section of the caldera wall is still extensively covered by dust that is being sculpted into curious shapes by the wind and by gravity.

Observation Toolbox
Acquisition date: 1 January 2007
Local Mars time: 3:33 PM
Degrees latitude (centered): 13.6°
Degrees longitude (East): 268.8°
Range to target site: 274.4 km (171.5 miles)
Original image scale range: 54.9 cm/pixel (with 2 x 2 binning) so objects ~165 cm across are resolved
Map-projected scale: 50 cm/pixel and north is up
Map-projection: EQUIRECTANGULAR
Emission angle: 13.3°
Phase angle: 66.1°
Solar incidence angle: 53°, with the Sun about 37° above the horizon
Solar longitude: 165.5°, Northern Summer

Background Info:

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is operated by the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the instrument was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corp., Boulder, Colo.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Instrument Host Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Host Type Orbiter
Instrument High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
Detector
Extra Keywords Dust, Grayscale, Infrared, Map, Mountain, Volcano
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2007-03-07
Date in Caption 2007-01-01
Image Credit NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09619
Identifier PIA09619