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> Mars' south polar region in spring

Mars' south polar region in spring

author: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona/Novapix

reference: a-mar11-00012

Image Size 300 DPI: 21 * 16 cm

This false-color image from the HIRISE(High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows dark patterns of dust carried by gas from beneath the seasonal ice cap as the cap of carbon dioxide ice (dry ice) sublimates (goes directly from ice to vapor) in spring. This image, covering an area about 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) across, was taken on Feb. 4, 2009.

Keywords for this photo:

2009 - ASTRONOMY - CARBON DIOXIDE - CLIMATE - DUST - FALSE COLOR - GEOLOGY - HIRISE - MARS - MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER - MRO - PLANET - POLE - SOUTH POLE - SPRING -