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South Polar Polygons

NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows patterned ground, a mosaic of polygonal forms, highlighted by seasonal frost in the south polar region of Mars.
PIA04726
Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems
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Description

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-473, 4 September 2003

Looking somewhat like the roadmap of a city on Earth, this August 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows patterned ground--a mosaic of polygonal forms--highlighted by seasonal frost in the south polar region near 86.3°S, 310.2°W. Dark surfaces in this springtime view are areas from which cold, carbon dioxide frost has been subliming away. The picture covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) across and is illuminated by sunlight from the upper left.