Extraordinary photographs reveal the mysteries of Mars

Date:

Share post:

Dingo hole in Gale crater

NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS

From H. G. Wells’s alien invaders in The Warfare of the Worlds to The Martian‘s abandoned astronaut, we have long been inspired by the idea that life could reside on Mars – human or otherwise. Flybys, orbiters and landers, including NASA’s Perseverance rover and its aerial sidekick, Ingenuity, have made Mars probably the greatest understood planets in our photo voltaic system. Now, greater than ever, we’re nearer to answering the query: might life exist there?

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter used its sharp-eyed HiRISE camera to photograph the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity on the surface. This photo commemorates Opportunity?s arrival at the 800-meter-diameter Victoria crater on the 951st day of Opportunity?s mission. The rover is visible as a tiny speck at about 10 o?clock. ? NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

An impression crater at Meridiani Planum

NASA/JPL-Caltech/College of Arizona

Mars Odyssey brought new imaging technology to Mars with its Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), which can see the surface in both day and night. In 2006 the THEMIS team began combining daytime images (which show topography in black and white) with nighttime views (which show temperature, from cold blue to warm red). In the Martian night, bedrock exposed on the flatlying Meridiani Planum and in crater rims retains heat, so is relatively warm compared to dust-covered areas. PAGE 158

Mars’s floor temperature

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona​ State College

A brand new ebook, Mars: Pictures from the NASA archive, celebrates the missions which have enriched our understanding of Mars and appears to a future the place people discover the Purple Planet.

A camera mounted to the top deck of the Perseverance rover captured the deployment and inflation of its supersonic parachute during its descent to Mars in 2021. The red-and-white stripes both help engineers map the motions of the parachute and encode two secret messages: the geographic coordinates of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the lab motto ?dare mighty things.? PAGE 46 ? NASA/JPL-Caltech

Perseverance pictures the parachute used to gradual its touchdown

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Pictured from prime, important image: the Dingo hole in Gale crater, which NASA’s Curiosity rover crossed; an impression crater at Meridiani Planum, shot by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Excessive Decision Imaging Science Experiment digital camera; Mars’s floor temperature, from chilly blue to heat pink, captured by the Mars Odyssey spacecraft’s Thermal Emission Imaging System; Perseverance pictures the parachute used to gradual its touchdown; a rocket-powered stage lowers Perseverance onto Mars in a “sky crane” manoeuvre.

NASA?s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, moments before landing in Jezero Crater, February 18, 2021. The photo was taken from the rocket-powered descent stage, which is lowering the rover to the ground on cables while hovering. At the moment of touchdown, the rover cut its cables, and the descent stage flew away to crash at a safe distance. ? NASA/JPL-Caltech PAGE 214

Perseverance rover, moments earlier than touchdown in Jezero Crater

NASA/JPL-Caltech

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Subjects:

Related articles

Diamond From 400 Miles Deep Reveals a Water-Wealthy Surroundings : ScienceAlert

Deep beneath the floor of our world, far past our feeble attain, enigmatic processes grind and roil.Now and...

Historic People Ate Crops, Research Exhibits : ScienceAlert

Claims that we must subscribe to a low-carb, high-protein 'paleo food plan' are sometimes primarily based on assertions...