* We so choose a different way to approach the problem: We instead first
try to employ an established polar map which was made at the US Geological
Survey (mainly by J L INGE) based on the results from Mariner 9 and Viking
Orbiter mosaics in the 1970's. Figure 2 is copied from a colour version of
the airbrush portrayal of the north polar region, and Fig 3 is a similar one
overlaid on a coordinate grid. Note that we set the longitude 270degs.W upward
(usually 180degs.W being topwards). These maps are originally obtained from the
mosaics taken on 12 Oct 1972 at 094degs.Ls by Mariner 9. It is however known
that the similar configuration was seen during the Viking period up until
150degs.Ls, though the brightness was much weakened with several spiral-type
fissions which were more apparent inside the npc.
Fig 2: The npc by Mariner9 and Viking Orbiters
Fig 3: The Mariner 9-Viking npc overlaid
* Figure 2 clearly shows
the presence of Olympia made of several white fragments, and Rima borealis
is seen broadly separating Olympia and the main part of the npc. It should
be remarked that another rift cuts deep into the cap on the right-hand side
around from 050degs.W. This is the fissure called Chasma boreale (1973, IAU).
Note that at least during the Mariner and Viking period the so-called Rima
tenuis was not visible. This is often reasoned that in the 1960s and 1970s
the climate was cold enough to hide Rima tenuis. On the other hand there can
also be another opinion that such a fine line is similar to a lot of fine
canals observed by Giovanni V SCHIAPARELLI, and since the canals have been
denied these days, such a fine line inside of the npc must also be truly
absent. Incidentally Rima tenuis, the name of which was given by E M
ANTONIADI in 1929, was claimed found by SCHIAPARELLI in 1888.
* We next prepare a grid like Fig 4 for the north polar region with the
tilt of the north pole towards to the Earth to De=18degs.N, and try to map the
npc in Figs 2 and 3 into Fig 4 with LCM=280degs.W to make Fig 5.
* The mapping
here may however be somewhat sloppy, but such rifts as Chasma boreale were
carefully checked.
Fig 4: A grid of the np region at De=18degs.N: the smallest circle is at 85degs.N,
the next one at 80degs.N.
Fig 5: The npc in Figs 2&3 is mapped on Fig 4 with LCM=280degs.W.
Fig 6: The same as Fig 1: HST image at LCM=282degs.W compared with Fig 5.
* Our plan is finally to compare the configu- ration of the npc in Fig 5 (at LCM=280degs.W) with the npc in the HST image of Fig 1(at LCM=282degs.W) which is reproduced again here as Fig 6.
* The comparison between Fig 5 and Fig 6
readily implies that the configuration of the so-called perennial npc taken
by the HST in 1995 is not so different to the one supposed from the data of
the Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiters: The big gap of Rima borealis is very
evident in both cases with the remnant fragments of Olympia, and Chasma
boreale really appears in the HST image as a deep fissure. It is however
difficult to find the so-called Rima tenuis in the HST image as another rift
which otherwise might have run through near the pole.
* We incidentally note that the npc which appeared in the well-known HST
images taken on 24 Feb 1995 at 064degs.Ls (cf. CMO #159) also suggests several rifts
inside which may be identified with those seen in the famous image taken by
Mariner 9 on 7 Aug 1972 at 066degs.Ls: Chasma boreale is just appearing to the
north of M Acidalium, and Rima borealis broadly complex. A fine fissure is
seen to the east of the main part of Rima borealis.
* The image of Mariner 9
at 066degs.Ls shows that the snow line is just to the north of the crater called
Korolev at 73degs.N, and hence the size of the npc in 1972 was not so large but
very normal (Phil JAMES recorded the values in a Figure showing the
regression in his paper in Icarus 52(1982)565 -- the very Figure in the
article was once cited in CMO #130 p1199 where the solid boxes inside the
Fig represent the values indicated by the observation of Mariner 9.) This
shows that the npc was not large enough to hide the supposed rift Rima
tenuis at least in 1972.
(MINAMI)