Perspective view into icy layered crater

This spectacular view into a crater near the south pole of Mars beautifully illustrates the layered terrain that typifies this region. The walls of the crater are striped with alternating layers of water-ice and fine sediments. These ‘polar layered deposits’ are also exposed in exquisite detail in the rusty red ridge that passes through the scene.

The High Resolution Stereo Imaging camera onboard ESA’s Mars Express captured this frosty scene in the Ultimi Scopuli region near the south pole of Mars on 19 May 2022. At this time it was southern hemisphere spring and ice was starting to retreat. Dark dunes began to peak through the frost and elevated terrain appears ice-free.

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