Etched Terrain

Scaled Image

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

About this image

This stunning THEMIS visible image was acquired in 'etched terrain' near the south pole of Mars. In several places in this image there are large areas with many dark spots. These spots have been noticed to appear and disappear as the seasons progress on Mars. As the southern hemisphere of Mars gets warmer, carbon dioxide frost present in this terrain sublimates, leaving behind the dark spots. Small dark dunes are visible towards the bottom of the image.

Please see the THEMIS Data Citation Note for details on crediting THEMIS images. 

Context

Image ID: 
V06342005 (View data in Mars Image Explorer)
-73.5394
351.333
6342
2003-05-20 07:49
Tue, 2003-06-17
VIS
1024 pixels (17 km)
3648 pixels (62 km)
0.017096 km/pixel
0.01722 km/pixel

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