Mars MOLA (37 mb)Mars —Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter
Description:
A topographic view of Mars can be telling of the many distinguishing characteristics that it possesses. Mars is known to have several significant topographic features such as Olympus Mons, the highest peak in the solar system, and Valles Marineris, a canyon that easily dwarfs the Grand Canyon. The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, MOLA, an instrument used to determine the altitude, was in orbit, attached to the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. Since its launch in 1996, the instruments on the Mars Global Surveyor, such as MOLA, have been providing scientists with valuable information.
The altitude is determined by MOLA by transmitting a laser pulse toward the surface of Mars. By recording the flight time of the pulse, the distance between the spacecraft and the surface of Mars can be calculated. These range measurements are then used to create the topographic maps. Areas that are red and brown have higher altitudes while areas that are blue and green have lower altitudes.
Notable Features:
- Olympus Mons: highest point in the solar system at 88,500ft
- Valles Marineris: Canyon 2500 miles long and 4 miles deep in places
- Hellas Planitia: an impact crater in the Southern Hemisphere 4.35 miles deep and 1400 miles in diameter
Data Category
Major: Astronomy
Minor: Mars
Keywords:
Solar System, planet, topography, MOLA
| Data Set Name | Mars MOLA |
| Data Set Directory Name | mars_mola |
| Data Set Source | Mars Global Surveyor |
| Data Set Developer | NASA |
| Visualization Developer | MOLA Science Team |
| Audio | No |
| Download | FTP |