Dark Light
This image shows the edge of the Martian South Polar layered deposit. The stack of fine layering is highlighted by the rays of the polar sun.

These layers show the pervasive red coloring of Mars which have built up over the ages. While this is a polar deposit, no ice or frost is visible on these layers, as they face the sun. However, if you look beyond the rim of the layered slope at the ‘top’ of the deposit, you can see that red rock and dust are covered with frost, as well as small radial channels that are evidence of polar spider networks. 


Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona https://www.uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_047087_1065
Related Posts

Lovely Layers

Arabia Terra is one of our favorite regions to image, mainly due to the diversity and beauty of its layered deposits.
Athabasca Valles

Athabasca Valles

This image is of the upper part of Athabasca Valles, a very young flood channel on Mars that might have been carved by a flood of lava instead of a flood of water.