A Martian Metamorphosis
Explanation:
Is it an Escher, or Mars?
Three different types of surfaces visible in the
North Polar Cap of
Mars morph into each other in a way perhaps
reminiscent of the works of
M. C. Escher.
On the far left dark sand covers the
ground,
while the center shows a transition to a
dune field.
On the far right a transition is made to a much
lighter surface,
likely containing a larger amount of ice.
Shadows indicate that lighter material holds the higher ground,
with some steep cliffs on the divide.
Dune shapes indicate that
wind
typically blows toward the upper left.
Mars Global Surveyor, one of two robot spacecraft currently orbiting
Mars, took the
above image in early 2001.
Recent images from the other orbiter,
Mars
Odyssey, have bolstered the
hypothesis that a significant amount of water-ice lies
beneath the surface near the Martian South Pole.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
