Wondering what these could be?

I am wondering if you can guess what is in this first picture.  To me, it looks like some fancy gold embossing on pure white linen or silk.  What would be your first quick impression?  Oh go ahead, take a guess, you may be right.

 

I sure do hope you guessed the right answer without looking down here below the picture for the answer.  OK, I will tell you without any more hesitation.  It is a picture taken by a space craft orbiting Mars and the picture is of Mar's south pole which defrosts each time summer comes to that region of the Red Planet.  Ice sheet pits ringed with gold-colored dust appear where frozen carbon dioxide changes directly into gas.  In a few months from when this picture was taken, cold temperatures again will freeze out the carbon dioxide.  The above came directly out of Astronomy, the magazine.

OK, how about another picture, this time of our moon?  This last picture is the west wall of Aristarchus Crater:

 

Sorry about the line down the right side of the picture.  That is the seam in my magazine.  Just didn't want you to think that there was a telephone pole on mars!!  You want a closer look, just click on the pictures to enlarge them.  Now, back here on Earth, I have an appointment with the eye doctor this morning, so have to go get ready but I also want you all to have a great day, you hear?