UA photos reveal Mars Lander covered in ice

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The University of Arizona says its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, is releasing views of the Phoenix Mars Lander.

The photos are showing the Lander covered in dry-ice frost on Mars.

The HiRISE camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured one image on July 30, 2009, and the other on Aug. 22, 2009. That's when the sun began rising over the northern polar plains at the end of the northern hemisphere winter, the imaging team says.

Studying the changes will help scientists understand the nature of the seasonal frost and winter weather patterns in this area of Mars.

The Phoenix Mars Lander stopped communicating last November, after successfully completing its mission. During the first part of 2010, scientists will listen to see if the Lander can still communicate with them.

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