Polygons in Seasonal Frost
Caption:
8 February 2004
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a summertime scene in the south polar region of the red planet. A patch of bright frost--possibly water ice--is seen in the lower third of the image. Polygon patterns that have developed in the ice as it sublimes away can be seen; these are not evident in the defrosted surfaces, so they are thought to have formed in the frost. This image is located near 82.6°S, 352.5°W. Sunlight illuminates this scene from the upper left; the image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide.
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 |
Grayscale, Water |
Acquisition Date |
|
Release Date |
2004-02-08 |
Date in Caption |
2004-02-08 |
|
Image Credit |
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems |
Source |
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05282 |
Identifier |
PIA05282 |