Sunset on Mars

Vintage chromogenic print on resin coated Kodak paper, 'This paper manufactured by Kodak' watermarks on the verso and NASA Viking News Center caption affixed. Strikingly beautiful image of Martin sunset. [NASA caption on reverse] This color image of the Martian surface in the Chyrse area was taken by Viking Lander 1, looking southwest, about 15 minutes before sunset on the evening of August 21. The sun is at an elevation angle of 3 or 4 degrees above the horizon and about 50 degrees clockwise from the right edge of the frame. Local topographic features are accentuated by the low lighting angle. A depression is seen near the center of the picture, just above the Lander’s leg support structure, which was not evident in previous pictures taken at higher sun angels. Just beyond the depression are large rocks about 30 centimeters (1 foot) across. The diffuse shadows are due to the sunlight that has been scattered by the dusty Martian atmosphere as a result of the long path length from the setting sun. Toward the horizon, several bright patches of bare bedrock are revealed.

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