Mars Polar Lander Landing Site

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The Mars Polar Lander is targeted for a site on the martian south polar layered deposits at 76 degrees south, 195 degrees west, about 800 km (500 miles) from the south pole. The elevation of this area is 4000 meters above the martian reference level and the daily temperature variation at the site is expected to be between -60 and -5 degrees C (-76 to +23 F). In Mars' southern hemisphere this is the end of spring, the Sun will be above the horizon continuously at these latitudes. Posted on: 04 Apr, 2003