Meanwhile, investigation of the north polar layered deposits has advanced significantly this year with the acquisition of new high resolution MOC images that reveal many more layers than were previously known to occur in the north polar deposits. The picture shows a slope along the edge of the permanent north polar cap that has dozens of layers exposed in it. The image shows many more layers than were visible to the Viking Orbiters in the 1970s. Some of the layers form steeper slopes than others, suggesting that they are more resistant to erosion. MOC image 46103 was obtained on July 30, 1998.
Illumination is from the right.
This picture was the subject of an earlier MGS MOC image release on October 19, 1998. This MOC image is made available in order to share with the public the excitement of new discoveries being made via the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. Release of this image does not constitute a release of scientific data. The image and its caption should not be referenced in the scientific literature. Full data releases to the scientific community are scheduled by the Mars Global Surveyor Project and NASA Planetary Data System.