This image covers the ice-rich material that has partially filled an old impact crater. One of the clear signs of near-surface ice is the polygonal patterns we see here , which are a common feature in terrains rich in near-surface ice (both on Earth and on Mars).

The main target of this observation is the oval-shaped depression that looks like a collapse feature. A close inspection of this feature shows that it is similarly affected by the polygonal patterns on the surface, just like its surroundings, which implies it is not a recent collapse.

Instead, this feature could be a small impact crater that has expanded in size due to the loss of ice from the materials surrounding it (possibly due to the heat generated from the impact). The loss of ice has expanded and modified the crater beyond its original size and shape.

Written by: Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry  (27 June 2024)


This is a stereo pair with ESP_083185_1340.