HiPOD: Wednesday, 16 December 2020
A Slice of Ice

A Slice of Ice
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.

ID: ESP_066552_1215
date: 7 October 2020
altitude: 247 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_066552_1215
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA

Black & white is less than 5 km across; enhanced color is less than 1 km. For full observation details, visit the ID link.