Mars. Mosaic of images taken by the Viking I and II probes showing the globe of Mars. The image is centred on 270 degrees longitude and 0 degrees lati

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Mars. Mosaic of images taken by the Viking I and II probes showing the globe of Mars. The image is centred on 270 degrees longitude and 0 degrees latitude. The northern polar cap (white at top) is formed by water ice and frozen carbon dioxide and extends up to the 80 degree latitude circle. This polar region is surrounded by a vast plain (dark) known as Vastitas Borealis, having a diameter of about 10,000km. Syrtis Major Planitia (dark, centre right) is the most conspicuous feature on the equatorial band. The round, craterless area at bottom right is Hellas Planitia, a plain with a diameter of about 2000km. The southern polar cap is just visible at bottom centre.

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Size: 4180px × 4180px
Photo credit: © US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: astronomy, caps, cosmology, globe, hellas, mars, mosaic, planet, planetary, planitia, polar, science, syrtis, view