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Polar Plumage

May 8, 2006
This NASA Mars Global Surveyor image shows dunes in the north polar region of Mars covered by a layer of carbon dioxide frost that accumulated during the winter in 2005. Dark spots indicate areas where frost has begun to sublime away.

8 May 2006
This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows dunes in the north polar region of Mars. The dunes in this scene are covered by a layer of carbon dioxide frost that accumulated during the winter in 2005. Dark spots indicate areas where frost has begun to sublime away. In summer, the dune field will be dark, as all of the frost will be gone and the iron- and magnesium-bearing silicate sands will be exposed.

Location near: 81.9°N, 226.1°W
Image width: ~3 km (~1.9 mi)
Illumination from: lower left
Season: Northern Spring

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