Sometimes Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images show things that look very bizzare. Unique among the MOC images is a suite of pictures from northwestern Hellas Planitia, such as the example shown here.

Strange surfaces of Hellas Planitia. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems SEE FULL PAGE IMAGE

The seeming familiarity of many MOC images, such as those showing earth-like sand dunes or stream-like gullies might give the impression that it is pretty easy to understand what MOC images are telling us about the geology of Mars.

Indeed, much of what has been found by MOC is both interpretable and profound -- layers recording the planet's early geologic history, evidence for recent groundwater emerging at the surface, dust storms and frost patterns that indicate seasonal change. However, many martian landforms remain unexplained and may require years of study.

This picture, acquired in late October 2000, appears to be a jumble of plates or layers exposed at the surface but subsequently covered by a thin mantle to give the scene a uniform brightness. What are these materials? Perhaps time and careful study will tell.

The picture is illuminated from the upper left and covers an area 2.9 by 4.1 km (1.8 by 2.5 mi) near 39.7 deg S, 306.7 deg W.

Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission. MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Surveyor Operations Project operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.