Dust Devil Streaks

• Click the image above for a larger view
• Full-Res JPEG (1141 x 2989) (805.4 kB)
• Full-Res TIFF (1141 x 2989) (3.4 MB)

Caption:

At first glance, the dust devil streaks observed in this THEMIS image of the martian northern plains may look similar to many other images. However, what makes this THEMIS image so interesting are the many streaks that trend over hills, mounds, and valleys. Many of the dust devil streaks previously observed occur in very flat and dusty regions. This unique image gives hints to the dynamic nature of the dust devil streak formational process.

Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time.

Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude 53.8, Longitude 200.9 East (159.1 West). 19 meter/pixel resolution.

Background Info:

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Cataloging Keywords: