Because the south polar terrains are so strange and new to human eyes, no one has yet entirely adequate explanations as to what is being seen. Because the south polar terrain is so strange and new to human eyes, no one as yet has an entirely adequate explanation as to what is being seen. The layers may be made up of frozen carbon dioxide, water ice and fine dusts that have been eroded over time. These images were acquired by the Mars Orbiter Camera aboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft during the southern spring season in October 1999. They show features at the scale of a small house.
Sunlight illuminates each scene from the left.
Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Visit the Tracking Station for a full listing of upcoming launches. Celebrate Columbia Celebrate the 20th anniversary of space shuttle Columbia's historic maiden flight with embroidered patches from the Astronomy Now Store.