A Landscape As Seen From The Southern Polar Cap of Mars

A shallow pool of water near the edge of the polar ice cap reflects the far-off sun. As the sun dips lower toward the horizon and the temperature drops a few more degrees this pool will again begin to freeze.

Surrounded by the slush ice and dark permafrost outcroppings a bit of algae-like material floats on the still surface. Bits of brownish-orange color on the foreground ice may indicate that simple life-forms had arose here eons ago - or perhaps the colors are simply a discoloration from minerals in the sand and soils of the surrounding deserts areas.

A rimrock crater wall looms in the distance beyond the rugged permafrost field. The brighter stars can still be seen through the thin dusty haze.