Frost and sand are common occurrences on Mars. The bright carbon dioxide frost condenses out of the atmosphere during winter, marking a stark contrast with the dark sand dunes found here. This image reveals how the warming temperatures from the rising southern sun liberate the frost and expose the sand, initially in discrete spots.

ID: ESP_081492_1215
date: 15 December 2023
altitude: 250 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_081492_1215
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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