Example raw Mars Express VMC image

Filed under pretty pictures, Mars, Mars Express

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This is an example of a VMC image that has been processed through version 3 of Gordan Ugarkovic's vmc2rgb software to produce an RGB color image by demosaicking and flatfielding the original raw data from the VMC instrument.

ESA

It was taken by Mars Express on October 9, 2008 and includes the Tharsis montes as well as Olympus mons (barely visible on the terminator near the top). At the bottom of the disk, Valles Marineris appears unusually bright -- perhaps there is a fog or dust event going on inside it?