PIA08726: Polar Terminus


Polar Terminus

Caption:

6 September 2006
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows the termination (end) of a group of layers in the north polar region of Mars, where they have been buried by younger, smoother-surfaced material. The layers are the banded features at the right/lower right. They are emerging by erosion from beneath the smoother material that dominates the scene. As the smooth material erodes, its margins become rough and rugged. No one knows the composition of the layered materials of the north polar region; most believe that they are a mixture of various proportions of ice, dust, and in some places, sand.

Location near : 81.3°N, 293.1°W
Image width : ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from : lower left
Season : Northern 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 Dust, Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2006-09-06
Date in Caption 2006-09-06
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08726
Identifier PIA08726