A Slice of Ice On Mars

editorAstrobiology5 hours ago3 Views

A Slice of Ice On Mars
ID: ESP_066552_1215, date: 7 October 2020,altitude: 247 km,NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizonalarger image

This HiRISE image shows a deposit draping the surface like a blanket. The deposit is eroding away, and near the center of the image we can see a section that is bright blue in enhanced color, although the true color is likely reddish. This scarp is exposing ice that makes up most of the mantling deposit.

Why can we only see ice on this small steep slope, instead of on level ground or the other eroded regions? The ice is covered by a layer of dust because exposed ice sublimates into the atmosphere, and only a steep, fresh exposure remains unburied.

Astrobiology

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻

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