HiRISE | Lizard-Skin Surface Texture (PSP_003730

NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Lizard-Skin Surface Texture
PSP_003730_0945 Science Theme: Seasonal Processes

The South Polar region of Mars is covered seasonally with translucent carbon dioxide ice. In the spring gas subliming (evaporating) from the underside of the seasonal layer of ice bursts through weak spots, carrying dust from below with it, to form numerous dust fans aligned in the direction of the prevailing wind.

The dust gets trapped in the shallow grooves on the surface, helping to define the small-scale structure of the surface. The surface texture is reminiscent of lizard skin.

Written by: Candy Hansen (25 December 2007)

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Acquisition date:	14 May 2007	Local Mars time:	6:04 PM
Latitude (centered):	-85.209 degrees	Longitude (East):	181.480 degrees
Range to target site:	248.4 km (155.3 miles)	Original image scale range:	24.9 cm/pixel (with 1 x 1 binning) so objects ~75 cm across are resolved
Map projected scale:	25 cm/pixel	Map projection:	POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC
Emission angle:	7.0 degrees	Phase angle:	63.7 degrees
Solar incidence angle:	69 degrees, with the Sun about 21 degrees above the horizon	Solar longitude:	237.5 degrees, Northern Autumn
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North azimuth:	130 degrees	Sub-solar azimuth:	37.1 degrees
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North azimuth:	91.49 degrees	Sub solar azimuth:	358.6 degrees

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For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona. The image data were processed using the U.S. Geological Survey’s ISIS3 software.