HiRISE Mars 4K (NASA): Helcaraxë

This image shows a small part of what is called the South Polar residual cap, meaning that ice can persist well past the winter season on Mars. Due to the expansion and contraction of subsurface ice, the terrain achieves its twisted shape in areas. “Helcaraxë” was the perilous icy wastes between the lands of Aman and Middle-earth in . Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion”. This is a non-narrated clip with ambient sound. Image is less than 5 km (3 mi) across and the spacecraft altitude was 245 km (153 mi). For full images including scale bars, visit the source link. Music: “Desert Howling Wind” (used by permission) NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona #Mars #science #landscape