Tag Archives: south polar layered deposits

HiRISE: Is that an impact crater?

Posted on April 3, 2017 by rburnham

This image was acquired to take a closer look at a circular feature that might be an impact structure on the South Polar layered deposits. Measuring the sizes and frequency of impact craters provides a constraint on the age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: South polar cap layers

Posted on March 3, 2017 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, March 3, 2017. This VIS image shows the layering of the South Polar cap of Mars. The image is located at the margin between the cap ice and the surrounding plains (bottom of image). More … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: Pages from the south polar climate history book

Posted on February 22, 2017 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, February 22, 2017. Today’s VIS image shows part of the south polar cap. It is now summer in the region and the surface frosts are gone. The layers of ice comprising the cap are now … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: How gas carves channels

Posted on January 25, 2017 by rburnham

A layer of dry ice covers the South Polar layered deposits every winter. In the spring, gas created from heating of the dry ice escapes through ruptures in the overlying seasonal ice, entraining material from the ground below. The gas … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

3D images reveal Mars polar ice cap features

Posted on January 3, 2017 by rburnham

Three-dimensional subsurface images are revealing structures within the Martian polar ice caps, including previously obscured layering, a larger volume of frozen carbon dioxide contained in the south polar cap, and bowl-shaped features that may be buried impact craters within both … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Edge of the south pole layered deposit

Posted on October 12, 2016 by rburnham

This image shows the edge of the Martian South Polar layered deposit. The stack of fine layering is highlighted by the rays of the polar sun. These layers show the pervasive red coloring of Mars which have built up over … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: South polar ice cap layers

Posted on October 3, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, October 3, 2016. This VIS image shows some of the multiple layers of ice that make up the South Polar cap. More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

THEMIS: South polar layers of ice and dust

Posted on August 25, 2016 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 25, 2016. Southern hemisphere spring has arrived at the south polar cap. The ice layers that make up the cap are easily seen in this VIS image. More THEMIS Images of the Day by … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HRSC: Mars south pole and beyond

Posted on September 10, 2015 by rburnham

This sweeping view by ESA’s Mars Express extends from the planet’s south polar ice cap and across its cratered highlands to the Hellas Basin (top left) and beyond… The image was acquired by the high-resolution stereo camera on ESA’s Mars … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

HiRISE: Mysterious bright streak on the south polar layered deposits

Posted on June 5, 2015 by rburnham

This locale was targeted to a bright, bow-shaped marking visible in a summertime image from MRO’s Context Camera. Our HiRISE image reveals a crater near the streak, perhaps from an impact event, although now too degraded to be certain of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reports | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off