Even Mars could not escape the festive mood. Introducing the amazing Queen Crater, located near the North Pole of the Red Planet. Named in honor of the Soviet designer and rocket designer Sergei Korolev. It is filled with a mound of water ice with a width of 60 km and a thickness of almost 2 km.
Water ice is a constant feature in these places. The crater is believed to pick up a cold layer of air that prevents the ice from melting even during the semi-annual northern summer on Mars. That is, this winter fairy tale is saved all year round. The image is based on 5 frames received by the ESA Mars Express Express stereo camera, which has been in orbit since 2003. Pictures taken in April 2018. Data processed to show its appearance with the naked eye.
Most likely, fine dust is mixed with ice, but this is not enough to change the color of the surface. At the poles of the Red Planet, you can also find water ice mixed with frozen carbon dioxide. In the northern Martian winter you can find ice caps with a layer of carbon dioxide, which is 1-2 m thick.
