PIA04685: South Polar Mesas


South Polar Mesas

Caption:

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-451, 13 August 2003

This August 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a plethora of small mesas with sharp, arcuate edges located on the south polar residual cap of Mars. These mesas, each about 2 meters (6-7 feet) high, are all remnants of a single layer or grouping of layers of frozen carbon dioxide. Sublimation of the carbon dioxide has eroded the layer(s) from these flat-topped mesas. This scene is located near 86.6°S, 105.4°W and 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 Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2003-08-20
Date in Caption 2003-08-13
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04685
Identifier PIA04685