Tag Archives: south polar ice cap

HiRISE: Slow obliteration

Slow obliteration. A crater in the southern polar region slowly yields to the elements. Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: Shield wall

Shield wall — Wonderful terrain the Martian South Pole, with terrific examples of sublimation and polygonal cracks from expansion and contraction due to seasonal changes. Beautiful Mars series.

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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.

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HiRISE: Honey, I shrunk the mesas

The South Polar residual cap (the part that lasts through the summer) is composed of carbon dioxide ice. Although the cap survives each warm summer season, it is constantly changing its shape due to sublimation of carbon dioxide from steep … Continue reading

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THEMIS: South polar layers — false color

THEMIS Image of the Day, May 15, 2015. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Southern spring — false color

THEMIS Image of the Day, May 14, 2015. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations … Continue reading

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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

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THEMIS: Cavi Angusti

THEMIS Image of the Day, April 17, 2015. This VIS image shows layering and linear ridges in Cavi Angusti. This region is near the south polar cap. More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

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HiRISE: South polar residual ice cap monitoring

It’s quiet at the south pole. Beautiful Mars series.

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HRSC: Cappuccino swirls at Mars’ south pole

Swirls of chocolate, caramel and cream – this image is definitely one to trigger sweet-toothed cravings. Smooth cream-coloured plateaus surrounded by cocoa-dusted ridges interspersed with caramel-hued streaks create a scene reminiscent of a cosmic cappuccino. This picture is, perhaps surprisingly, … Continue reading

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