Proposed MSL Landing Site in Mawrth Vallis - Ellipse 4
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Proposed MSL Landing Site in Mawrth Vallis - Ellipse 4
PSP_006887_2050  Science Theme: Future Exploration/Landing Sites
Mawrth Vallis has a rich mineral diversity, including clay minerals that formed by the chemical alteration of rocks or loose “regolith” (soil) by water. The CRISM instrument on the MRO spacecraft detects a variety of clay minerals here, which could signify different processes of formation. The high resolution of the HiRISE camera helps us to see and trace out layers, polygonal fractures, and with CRISM, examine the distribution of various minerals across the surface.

This surface is scientifically compelling for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, although some of the terrain can be somewhat rough. Scientists use HiRISE images to find the safest possible landing site for the rover.

Written by: Jennifer Griffes  (12 March 2008)

This is a stereo pair with PSP_007823_2050.
 
Acquisition date
15 January 2008

Local Mars time
14:31

Latitude (centered)
24.860°

Longitude (East)
339.543°

Spacecraft altitude
289.7 km (180.0 miles)

Original image scale range
29.0 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~87 cm across are resolved

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel and North is up

Map projection
Equirectangular

Emission angle
3.2°

Phase angle
37.1°

Solar incidence angle
40°, with the Sun about 50° above the horizon

Solar longitude
17.7°, Northern Spring

For non-map projected images
North azimuth:  97°
Sub-solar azimuth:  345.8°
JPEG
Black and white
map projected  non-map

IRB color
map projected  non-map

Merged IRB
map projected

Merged RGB
map projected

RGB color
non-map projected

JP2
Black and white
map-projected   (1548MB)

IRB color
map-projected   (714MB)

JP2 EXTRAS
Black and white
map-projected  (770MB)
non-map           (671MB)

IRB color
map projected  (231MB)
non-map           (578MB)

Merged IRB
map projected  (384MB)

Merged RGB
map-projected  (393MB)

RGB color
non map           (550MB)
ANAGLYPHS
Map-projected, reduced-resolution
Full resolution JP2 download
Anaglyph details page

DIGITAL TERRAIN MODEL (DTM)
DTM details page

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
B&W label
Color label
Merged IRB label
Merged RGB label
EDR products
HiView

NB
IRB: infrared-red-blue
RGB: red-green-blue
About color products (PDF)

Black & white is 5 km across; enhanced color about 1 km
For scale, use JPEG/JP2 black & white map-projected images

USAGE POLICY
All of the images produced by HiRISE and accessible on this site are within the public domain: there are no restrictions on their usage by anyone in the public, including news or science organizations. We do ask for a credit line where possible:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

POSTSCRIPT
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona.