13 August 2004
This red wide angle Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a view of the retreating seasonal south polar cap in the most recent spring in late 2003. Bright areas are covered with frost, dark areas are those from which the solid carbon dioxide has sublimed away. The center of this image is located near 76.5°S, 28.2°W. The scene is large; it covers an area about 250 km (155 mi) across. The scene is illuminated by sunlight from the upper left.