A catalog of NASA images and animations of our home planet

• Credit:

  Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Sea ice begins to melt and break away from Oates Coast in the upper-half of this MODIS true-color image acquired from data collected on October 13, 2001. As springtime progresses, and temperatures rise above freezing, the coastline of Antarctica becomes a visible reality.

Also visible in the image, just to the right of center, under heavy snow are the Usurp Mountains running north and south. To the right of the Usurps is another mountain range, the Bowers Mountains. The Bowers Mountains are the more defined, angular formations closer to the coastline. In between the two ranges is a sleek, gray sheet, which marks the Rennick Glacier.

Images & Animations

• Webmaster: Paul Przyborski
• NASA Official: Steven E. Platnick
• Database Updated: June 19, 2013