JavaScript is required
JPL Logo
Image

Utopia Planitia

July 18, 2012
The dark surface markings of Utopia Planitia are thought to be caused by dust devils as seen by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft.
Context Image

The dark surface markings in this image of Utopia Planitia are thought to be caused by dust devils. The markings are darker than the surroundings due to the dust devil removing material and revealing the original darker surface.

Orbit Number: 45973 Latitude: 50.6197 Longitude: 91.9287 Instrument: VIS Captured: 2012-04-25 15:35

Please see the THEMIS Data Citation Note for details on crediting THEMIS images.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, 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.

Keep Exploring