PIA03042: Defrosting Patterns


Defrosting Patterns

Caption:

15 October 2005
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a frost-covered surface in the martian south polar region. As the seasonal frost begins to sublime away, local variations in surface texture-mostly dendritic cracks, in this case-lead to early defrosting in some areas. Those areas already defrosted appear dark in the image.

Location near : 79.1°S, 340.1°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 Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2005-10-15
Date in Caption 2005-10-15
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03042
Identifier PIA03042