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"Happy Face" Crater

May 16, 2003
NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows Galle Crater on Mars, informally known as 'Happy Face,' as it appeared in early southern winter.

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-361, 15 May 2003

Every day, the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) wide angle instruments obtain a global view of the planet to help monitor weather and seasonal patterns of frost deposition and removal. The two pictures shown here are taken from the same daily global image mosaic (the only difference is that each was processed slightly differently). The pictures show Galle Crater, informally known as "Happy Face," as it appeared in early southern winter. The white-ish gray surfaces are coated with wintertime carbon dioxide frost. The pattern of frost distribution gives the appearance that "Happy Face" has opened its mouth. Galle Crater is located on the east rim of Argyre at 51°S, 31°W. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the upper left. Galle Crater is 230 km (143 mi) across.

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