PIA02183: A Matter of Time


A Matter of Time

Caption:

16 February 2006
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a portion of the south polar residual cap where the effects of sublimation are apparent. Over extended periods of time, sublimation "eats" away at the smoother appearing material (largely composed of frozen carbon dioxide), darkening the scarps and creating the irregularly shaped depressions that are present throughout much of the scene.

Location near : 87.1°S, 69.3°W
Image width : ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from : upper left
Season : Southern Summer

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 2006-02-16
Date in Caption 2006-02-16
Image Credit NASA/JPL/ASU
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA02183
Identifier PIA02183