SEE IT: There’s A Winter Wonderland On Mars

The red planet is getting festive!

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Korolev crater on Mars is covered by ice.
Björn Schreiner 2018 - FU Berlin

Our red planetary neighbor is getting festive for the holidays! Mars has a feature known as the Korolev crater and it’s currently covered in ice.

mars
Korolev crater is covered by ice.
Björn Schreiner 2018 - FU Berlin

Images of the wintry sight were snapped by the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). The photo is comprised of five different strips that were compiled from different orbits.

The Mars Express mission launched in 2003 with the spacecraft’s orbit insertion taking place six months later on December 25, 2003. This Christmas marks the 15-year anniversary of the event so, these images are a special gift to researchers.

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This color-coded topographic view shows the relative heights of the terrain in and around Korolev crater, an ice-filled crater in the northern lowlands of Mars.
Björn Schreiner 2018 - FU Berlin

The crater is located near the northern polar cap. The ice stays frozen thanks to cold air hovering over the sheet like a shield, stopping the ice from heating up and disappearing. This region has been of interest to researcher for some time- they’re looking for signs of life.

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