Space Probes

Viking Orbiter 2

Viking Orbiter 2 Mars approach pictures in August 6, 1976. The images were processed to approximate "real color" by adjusting gamma to 2.0 and processing the channels as follows:

100% Red (625nm) - 5% Green (550nm) = ~ 650nm (Red)
30% Red (625nm) + 70% Green (550nm) = ~ 510nm (Green)
20% Green (550nm) + 80% Violet (410nm) = ~ 440nm (Blue)

The actual figures are approximate, but the match the visual response of the human eye (I've seen different peak wavelengths listed, but here I'm using the same as values as on my previous Viking Lander images. They seem to work and reduce excess violet or green hues in Mars images).

I'm unsure about gamma adjustment, as I don't know if the raw data was calibrated for the vidicon actual response. Finally, I've reduced image size by 75% and applied a slight unsharp mask.

Viking Orbiter Mars approach sequence frames

Camera system data

Orbiter Camera

Resolution: 1182x1056 px
Bit depth: 7 bits

Filters

Clear
Red
Green
Minus Blue
Blue
Violet