The discussion centers on a significant observation of residual water ice located in a 35-kilometer-wide crater at the Martian north pole, which reaches a maximum depth of approximately 2 kilometers. This bright patch of ice remains year-round due to favorable temperature and pressure conditions that prevent sublimation. The ice is confirmed to be water ice, as frozen carbon dioxide had already disappeared from the north polar cap during late summer in the Martian northern hemisphere. The crater's formation is likely the result of an impact event, although further studies are necessary to confirm the origins of the ice.
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The crater is 35 kilometres wide and has a maximum depth of approximately 2 kilometres beneath the crater rim. The circular patch of bright material located at the centre of the crater is residual water ice. This white patch is present all year round, as the temperature and pressure conditions do not favour the sublimation of water ice.
It cannot be frozen carbon dioxide since carbon dioxide ice had already disappeared from the north polar cap at the time the image was taken (late summer in the Martian northern hemisphere).