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Tag Archives: spiders
Small troughs may grow from gas-jet ‘spiders’
Erosion-carved troughs that grow and branch during multiple Martian years may be infant versions of larger features known as Martian “spiders,” which are radially patterned channels found only in the south polar region of Mars. Researchers using NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged CO2 ice, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, spiders, University of Arizona
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HiRISE: Painting with frost
Subtle variations in color look like brush strokes as the lightly frosted terrain reflects light. These variations provide a backdrop to some exotic features referred to colloquially as “spiders.” The radial channels branching out from a central depression are formed … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged CO2 frost, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, spiders, University of Arizona
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Hunting ice cap ‘spiders’ through citizen science
Ten thousand volunteers viewing images of Martian south polar regions have helped identify targets for closer inspection, yielding new insights about seasonal slabs of frozen carbon dioxide and erosional features known as “spiders.” From the comfort of home, the volunteers … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Context Camera, CTX, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, south polar ice cap, spiders, University of Arizona
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HiRISE: Spiders
Not so itsy, not so bitsy: “Spider formations” are made by the process of sublimation, when a solid (carbon dioxide ice) transforms directly into a gas. Beautiful Mars series.
Posted in Reports
Tagged Beautiful Mars, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, south polar ice cap, spiders, University of Arizona
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HiRISE: On the evolution of spiders
On the evolution of spiders. “Spider” is the informal name we give to these features, which are caused by sublimation, when a solid transforms directly into a gas. Here, it’s carbon dioxide gas that sublimates and creates these patterns. Beautiful … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged Beautiful Mars, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, south polar ice cap, spiders, University of Arizona
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HiRISE: Icy wonderland
Although the season is late spring, carbon dioxide ice still covers much of the surface at this high latitude site. It is still a chilly –128 degrees Celsius [–198° F]. The weak boundaries of the polygonal structure of the surface … Continue reading
Posted in Reports
Tagged CO2 ice, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, south polar ice cap, spiders, University of Arizona
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HiRISE: Amazing spider land
The amazing spider land! Beautiful Mars series.
Posted in Reports
Tagged Beautiful Mars, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, south polar ice cap, spiders, University of Arizona
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HiRISE: Fans in non-cryptic terrain
Fans in non-cryptic terrain: Sublimation at work! (Sublimation is the process of going from a solid directly to a gaseous form, so the darker material under the ground is exposed rapidly onto the lighter surface). Beautiful Mars series.
Posted in Reports
Tagged Beautiful Mars, High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, NASA, south polar ice cap, spiders, University of Arizona
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Making polar spiders in the lab
The formation of “spiders” during Martian south polar spring is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on the Red Planet. Briefly, what happens is that every winter carbon dioxide ice forms a translucent layer above the sandy ground. Then … Continue reading