21 December 2004
Slopes in the north polar region of Mars exhibit outcroppings of layered material. No one knows the composition of the layers, but the uppermost layers of are thought to be a mixture of dust and ice in some proportion. Lower layers in the north polar region are thought to include sand. This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a late northern spring view of a slope on which are exposed some of the upper layers in the north polar region. Bright surfaces in this image are covered by frost. The image is located near 81.5°N, 340.6°W. The picture covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) wide. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left.