This high resolution photo of the surface of Mars was taken by Viking Lander 2 at its Utopia Planitia landing site on May 18, 1979, and relayed to Earth by Orbiter 1 on June 7th. It shows a thin coating of water ice on the rocks and soil. The time of the frost appearance corresponds almost exactly with the build up of frost one Martian year (23 Earth Months) before. Image # : P-21841 Date: May 18, 1979

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Size: 2688px × 1242px
Photo credit: © NC Collections / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1, ice, lander, mars, martian, orbiter, viking, water