Post #448

From fog machines on Earth to craters on the surface of Mars, dry ice is quite the show stopper. Every winter, a layer of carbon dioxide frost (dry ice) forms on the surface of Mars. At its greatest extent, this layer reaches from the poles to around 50 degrees latitude, similar to the latitude of Canada on Earth. This image was taken in the middle of winter in Mars’ Southern Hemisphere. The crater is near 37 degrees south latitude and the south-facing slope of the crater has patches of bright frost that appear blue in enhanced color. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona ALT TEXT: Close up image of a crater on Mars’ surface. The crater is mostly shades of brown and tan, but with enhanced color, there are patches of blue inside the crater. These blue patches are carbon dioxide frost, or dry ice.