Colour-enhanced 'fish-eye' view of Mars. Mosaic of images made by the Viking Orbiter, centred on the Amazonis Planitia plain. This point perspective i

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Colour-enhanced 'fish-eye' view of Mars. Mosaic of images made by the Viking Orbiter, centred on the Amazonis Planitia plain. This point perspective image simulates a 'fish-eye' lens view from a spacecraft about 2500 km above the surface, and covers an area of about 60 degrees latitude by 60 degrees longitude. The dark feature left of centre is Cerberus. This is thought to be underlying rock exposed by the Martian winds. Above Cerberus are three bright spots; the volcanoes Hecates Mons (upper), Elysium Mons and Albor Tholus (lower). Just to the right of centre is a pale, club-shaped feature called Orcus Patera. Its origin is unknown, but may be a lava-filled crater system.

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Size: 2719px × 3531px
Photo credit: © US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: astronomy, cerberus, cosmology, imagery, mars, mosaic, perspective, planet, planetary, point, science, viking