Blue Polar Dunes In False Color

This is an afternoon image of the far northern reaches of Mars' polar cap, taken in the late nothern summer season, after most of the carbon dioxide frost has vaporized. Ice/frost will typically appear as bright blue-white in color; dust mantled ice will appear in tones of red/orange. The small dunes in this image are 'bluer' than the rest of the layered ice/dust units to the left. They are surmised to be composed chiefly of basaltic sands.