South Pole of Mars

South Pole of Mars
South Pole of Mars A combination of frozen carbon dioxide, or "dry ice," and water ice covers the south pole of Mars in this image reconstructed from data returned during the Viking mission. The martian polar caps, and the intriguing layered terrain that may hold clues to the planet's past climate, will be prime targets of exploration when human beings reach Mars. Laurence Soderblom, United States Geological Survey