Edge along Gale Crater Interior Mound
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Edge along Gale Crater Interior Mound
PSP_001488_1750  Science Theme: Sedimentary/Layering Processes
Gale Crater is one of several craters around the equator that have deposits of light-toned layered deposits. This HiRISE image covers the northern edge of the light-toned layered deposit in the center mound of Gale Crater, as well as a small portion of the crater floor.

The top of the image shows a relatively flat surface with lots of impact craters. Moving southward, there is a large canyon where dark sands have accumulated and formed ripples and dunes.

As one moves further to the south, the light-toned layered deposit rises upward in topography. Layering is visible in some locations. The surface of the light-toned deposit is very fractured, producing meter-size blocks. The fact that we don't see many loose rocks along the surface suggests that the rocks are quickly being destroyed by winds due to their fragile nature.

Resistant hills tend to be elongated from the upper left to the lower right, consistent with upslope or downslope winds eroding the rocks.

Written by: Cathy Weitz  (10 October 2007)

This is a stereo pair with PSP_001752_1750.
 
Acquisition date
20 November 2006

Local Mars time
15:31

Latitude (centered)
-4.833°

Longitude (East)
137.296°

Spacecraft altitude
265.6 km (165.1 miles)

Original image scale range
26.7 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~80 cm across are resolved

Map projected scale
25 cm/pixel and North is up

Map projection
Equirectangular

Emission angle
2.5°

Phase angle
58.8°

Solar incidence angle
57°, with the Sun about 33° above the horizon

Solar longitude
138.2°, Northern Summer

For non-map projected images
North azimuth:  97°
Sub-solar azimuth:  29.5°
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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.