[meteorite-list] Mars Odyssey THEMIS Image of the Isidis Planitia Basin Rim (April 3, 2002)

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:50:22 2004
Message-ID: <200204031823.KAA23238_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20020403a.html

Mars 2001 Odyssey
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
Isidis Rim (Released 3 April 2002)

This lunar-like scene occurs along the southeastern rim of the
Isidis Planitia basin. The Isidis basin is an ancient impact crater
some 1200 km across that is found along the boundary separating
the heavily-cratered southern highland terrain of Mars from the
northern lowlands. Elements of both terrains are evident in this
image as an island of rugged highland terrain surrounded by
smoother lowland terrain. The resurfacing of the Isidis basin
produced a system of wrinkle ridges, some of which are seen on
the lowland terrain in the image. Wrinkle ridges are a common
feature on the surface of the moon and add to the lunar-like
quality of this image. Layers are visible in the large island,
the most resistant of which likely are from lava flows that
created the highland terrain. The process by which the
global-scale highland/lowland dichotomy was created remains a
mystery.

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Note: This 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.

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.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Arizona State University
Received on Wed 03 Apr 2002 01:23:04 PM PST