Martian Dune Field
Image Not Available
Photograph
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
American, estab. 1958
Martian Dune Field
August 3, 1976
Gelatin silver print
Image: 7.6 x 24 cm
Overall: 20.3 x 25.3 cm
Museum accession
2011.0100.0008
Inscriptions verso (applied label, typed): NATIONAL AERONATICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION/ VIKING NEWS CENTER/ PASADENA, CALIFORNIA/ (213) 354-6000/
PHOTO CAPTION/
Viking 1-64/ P-17430 (Sol 14)/ August 4, 1976
This spectacular picture of the Martian landscape by the Viking 1 Lander/ shows a dune field with features remarkably similar to many seen in the/ deserts of Earth. The dramatic early morning lighting--7:30 a.m. local/ Mars time--reveals subtle details and shading. Taken yesterday (August 3)/ by the Lander's camera #1, the picture covers 100°, looking northeast at/ left and southeast at right. Viking scientists have studied areas very/ much like the one in this view in Mexico and in California (Kelso, Death/ Valley, Yuma). The sharp dune crests indicate the most recent wind storms/ capable of moving sand over the dunes in the general direction from upper/ left to lower right. Small deposits downwind of rocks also indicate this/ wind direction. Large boulder at left is about eight meters (25 feet)/ from the spacecraft and measures about one by three meters (3 by 10 feet)./ The meteorology boom, which supports Viking's miniature weather station,/ cuts through the picture's center./ The sun rose two hours earlier and is about 30 above the horizon near the center of the picture.
PHOTO CAPTION/
Viking 1-64/ P-17430 (Sol 14)/ August 4, 1976
This spectacular picture of the Martian landscape by the Viking 1 Lander/ shows a dune field with features remarkably similar to many seen in the/ deserts of Earth. The dramatic early morning lighting--7:30 a.m. local/ Mars time--reveals subtle details and shading. Taken yesterday (August 3)/ by the Lander's camera #1, the picture covers 100°, looking northeast at/ left and southeast at right. Viking scientists have studied areas very/ much like the one in this view in Mexico and in California (Kelso, Death/ Valley, Yuma). The sharp dune crests indicate the most recent wind storms/ capable of moving sand over the dunes in the general direction from upper/ left to lower right. Small deposits downwind of rocks also indicate this/ wind direction. Large boulder at left is about eight meters (25 feet)/ from the spacecraft and measures about one by three meters (3 by 10 feet)./ The meteorology boom, which supports Viking's miniature weather station,/ cuts through the picture's center./ The sun rose two hours earlier and is about 30 above the horizon near the center of the picture.
