PIA05701: South Polar Layers


South Polar Layers

Caption:

27 March 2004
This 1.5 meter per pixel (5 ft./pixel) Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows south polar layers exposed on the slopes of a mesa near 74.2°S, 244.6°W. These layers were once more extensive across the region, today only this and a few other remnants remain. The dark streaks were created by spring and summer dust devils that swept across the layered mesa with little regard to the changes in topography. The image covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) across. 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 Dust, Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2004-03-27
Date in Caption 2004-03-27
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05701
Identifier PIA05701