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Webcam images (left) and calculated images (right) for comparison:
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The above image of Mars was taken during the opposition in August 2003, when Mars got extremely near to earth. The image at right is a correctly rotated comparison image which was calculated by CalSKY for the date and time of exposure, it shows the albedo features at high resolution.
Many features can be identified in the webcam image. Most prominent is the white southern pole cap, which was especially large in August 2003. The dark area on top and slightly at right is called Mare Acidalium, the separated dark patch to the left of the Mare is designated Lacus Nilokeras. The bright orange-colored areas are called Tharsis (left), Tempe (center) and Chryse (right). The large dark area below the image's center is composed of Solis Lacus (left) and Mare Erythraeum (center), which has a horn-like extension called Oxus at right and another horn-like extension called Tithonius Lacus at left into Tharsis/Tempe, the latter albedo feature represents the giant canyon system of the Valles Marineris. Tharsis is a plateau which sports giant volcanoes, these are not really discernable in the webcam image.
Most albedo features do not represent topographic surface structures on Mars, they are just large areas of differently colored material which covers the planet's surface.
Exposure Data
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