Mars. Mosaic of images taken by the Viking I and II probes centred on 30 degrees latitude south and 330 degrees longitude in the martian southern hemi

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Mars. Mosaic of images taken by the Viking I and II probes centred on 30 degrees latitude south and 330 degrees longitude in the martian southern hemisphere. The equatorial band and southern hemisphere are marked by heavily cratered areas which contrast with the sparsely cratered plains (not seen here) of the northern hemisphere. The south polar cap (white) is seen at bottom centre; it mainly consists of frozen carbon dioxide and extends up to the 80 degrees latitude circle. The round Hellas Planitia (lower centre right) is a vast plain with a diameter of about 2000 km. Schiaparelli (upper centre left) with a diameter of 500 km is one of the largest craters seen here.

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Size: 4038px × 4893px
Photo credit: © US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: astronomy, cap, cosmology, hellas, hemisphere, mars, mosaic, plain, planet, planetary, planitia, polar, science, south