PIA04199: Defrosting Sand


Defrosting Sand

Caption:

2 September 2005
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a patch of frost-covered, dark sand that, at the time the picture was acquired in June 2005, had begun to defrost. The frost is carbon dioxide. Dunes and other patches of sand are usually the first polar features to develop dark spots as the frost begins to sublime away.

Location near : 78.9°S, 80.2°W
Image width : width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from : upper left
Season : Southern Spring

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 Atmosphere, Dune, Grayscale, Storm
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2005-09-02
Date in Caption 2005-09-02
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04199
Identifier PIA04199