1 May 2004
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows frost-covered sand dunes in the early northern spring of 2004 in the north polar region. Sunlight illuminates the dunes from the bottom/lower left, but frost on slopes facing the lower right create the illusion of sunlight from that direction. This dune field, which would appear quite dark in summertime, is located near 80.3°N, 148.7°W. The picture covers an area about 3 km (1.9 mi) across.