PIA06376: High Latitude Polygons
NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows polygonal patterned ground on a south high-latitude plain on Mars. The outlines of the polygons, like the craters and hills in this region, are enhanced by the presence of bright frost left over from the previous winter.
 Target Name:  Mars
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) 
 Spacecraft:  Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter
 Instrument:  Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) 
 Product Size:  512 x 826 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  Malin Space Science Systems 
 Producer ID:  MOC2-1232  
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA06376.tif (423.6 kB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA06376.jpg (105.2 kB)  

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Original Caption Released with Image:

26 September 2005
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows polygonal patterned ground on a south high-latitude plain. The outlines of the polygons, like the craters and hills in this region, are somewhat enhanced by the presence of bright frost left over from the previous winter. On Earth, polygons at high latitudes would usually be attributed to the seasonal freezing and thawing cycles of ground ice. The origin of similar polygons on Mars is less certain, but might also be an indicator of ground ice.

Location near: 75.3°S, 113.2°W
Image width: width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from: upper left
Season: Southern Spring

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Image Addition Date:
2005-09-26