Defrosting South Polar Sand
Caption:
2 February 2004
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image provides a springtime view of defrosting processes on a surface that in summer would be a dark patch of sand. In winter, the sand is covered by frost (carbon dioxide and possibly water ice, as well). In spring, the sand develops a spotted pattern as the frosts sublime away. The sand patch is part of a dune field in Jeans Crater, located in the south polar region near 69.8°S, 206.6°W. The picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide; sunlight illuminates the scene from the upper left.
Cataloging Keywords:
Name |
Value |
Additional Values |
Target |
Mars |
|
System |
|
|
Target Type |
Planet |
|
Mission |
Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) |
|
Instrument Host |
Mars Global Surveyor |
|
Host Type |
Orbiter |
|
Instrument |
Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) |
|
Detector |
|
|
Extra Keywords |
Crater, Dune, Grayscale, Water |
Acquisition Date |
|
Release Date |
2004-02-02 |
Date in Caption |
2004-02-02 |
|
Image Credit |
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
Source |
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05262 |
Identifier |
PIA05262 |