Defrosting Gullies on Mars

Image Title: Defrosting Gullies on Mars
Release Date: December 4, 2005
Source: Mars Global Surveyor Narrow Angle Camera

Description

This wonderful image combines the beauty of the defrosting carbon dioxide ice during the Martian spring with abundant gullies in the wall of a large depression in the south polar region of Mars. Gullies like the ones seen here were a geological surprise when they were first observed in images returned by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. For more information about these gullies, see the image Martian Gullies.

Source Image Background

The source image was acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor Narrow Angle Camera in August 2003. The width of the image is a little more than 2.5 kilometers. The approximate location of this feature is 3° west longitude, 73° south latitude.

Image Processing

This false color image was created using Adobe Photoshop. In addition to noise removal and contrast enhancement, a palette of colors representative of the scene was used to create this false color rendition.

Downloads

I have created a low resolution, compressed version of "Defrosting Gullies on Mars" for use as a desktop wallpaper. This wallpaper is made available for your personal use only. It is not to be modified or redistributed in any form by any means. All rights are retained by the artist.

Defrosting Gullies on Mars, 1280 X 1024 Wallpaper Image by Jim Plaxco