Charlier Crater Dunes

A crater named after a Swedish astronomer hosts a dune field that is brightened by a layer of frost. Although the crater is located at high southern latitudes, it is probably too late in the spring season for the dunes to retain the CO2 frost that forms during the southern winter; water ice is a better candidate for the dune frost. In the upper left corner of the image storm clouds can be seen. As summer deepens the frost will sublimate from the dunes. Storms are common at the poles during these times.