Mars' North Pole
by Nasa/science Photo Library
Title
Mars' North Pole
Artist
Nasa/science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Mars' north pole. Computer image of Mars' north polar ice cap, based on data collected in mid-1998 from the laser altimeter on the Global Surveyor spacecraft in orbit around Mars. The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) fired around 2.6 million laser pulses at the pole, measuring the return time of each one to ascertain the surface topography. The map has a resolution of one kilometre and a vertical accuracy of between 5 and 30 metres. The ice cap is around 1200 kilometres across, and over 3 kilometres thick. The deeper canyons plunge over a kilometre down from the surface. It is composed of water ice, an essential resource for any manned missions landing on Mars.
Uploaded
September 16th, 2018
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