PIA01522: Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopian Plain


Viking 2 Image of Mars Utopian Plain

Caption:

The boulder-strewn field of red rocks reaches to the horizon nearly two miles from Viking 2 on Mars' Utopian Plain. Scientists believe the colors of the Martian surface and sky in this photo represent their true colors. Fine particles of red dust have settled on spacecraft surfaces. The salmon color of the sky is caused by dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. Color calibration charts for the cameras are mounted at three locations on the spacecraft. Note the blue star field and red stripes of the flag. The circular structure at top is the high-gain antenna, pointed toward Earth. Viking 2 landed September 3,1976, some 4600 miles from its twin, Viking 1, which touched down on July 20.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Viking
Instrument Host Viking 2 Lander
Host Type Lander
Instrument Camera 1
Detector
Extra Keywords Atmosphere, Color, Dust
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2000-05-02
Date in Caption 1976-09-03
Image Credit NASA/JPL
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01522
Identifier PIA01522