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Webcam image (left) and calculated image (right) for comparison:
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The above images of Mars were 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 of the planet's disk 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 Tempe (left), Chryse (center) and Arabia (right). The large dark area at the image's center is composed of Solis Lacus (left) and Mare Erythraeum (center), which has a horn-like extension called Oxus at right into Arabia and another horn-like extension called Tithonius Lacus at left into Tempe, the latter albedo feature represents the giant canyon system of the Valles Marineris. The dark patch at right is designated Meridiani Sinus.
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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