The Surface Stereo Imager on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander took this false
color image on Oct. 21, 2008, during the 145th Martian day, or sol, since
landing. The white areas seen in these trenches are part of an ice layer
beneath the soil.
The trench on the upper left, called "Upper Cupboard," is about 60
centimeters (24 inches) long and 3 centimeters (1 inch) deep. The trench
in the middle, called "Ice Man," is about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long
and 3 centimeters (1 inch) deep. The trench on the right, called "La
Mancha," is about 31 centimeters (12 inches) and 5 centimeters (2 inches)
deep.
The Phoenix mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf
of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, Denver.