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High Latitude Polygons
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Caption:
21 September 2004
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows polygon patterned ground in the south polar region near 82.0°S, 90.8°W. Polygons are fairly common at high latitudes in both martian hemispheres, but they do not occur everywhere. On Earth, features such as these would be good indicators of the presence and freeze-thaw cycles of ground ice. On Mars, the same might (emphasis on
might
) also be true. This image covers an area approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is illuminated by sunlight from the upper left. Seasonal frost enhances the contrast in the scene; the darkest areas have advanced the farthest in the springtime defrosting process.
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 | |
| Acquisition Date | ||
| Release Date | 2004-09-21 | |
| Date in Caption | 2004-09-21 | |
| Image Credit | NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems | |
| Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05951 | |
| Identifier | PIA05951 | |
