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Martian Skies
Yesterday's announcement by NASA of the discovery of water ice on Mars by its Phoenix Lander probe made big news everywhere. The discovery involved the observation of water ice sublimating into the air - that is, the water went from solid to vapor state without reaching the liquid stage. The Martian atmosphere has perfect conditions for sublimation - extremely thin, dry and cold. How cold? Well, you can check the Live Martian Weather Report, with data from a station on board the Phoenix Lander. Today will see a high temperature of a toasty -26 degrees F.
What more do we know about Mars' atmosphere? It's hundreds of times thinner than Earth's atmosphere and is made of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and contains traces of oxygen, water, and methane. We also know, from observations that it can support dust storms, dust devils, clouds and gusty winds. With an amazing number of six current live probes exploring Mars (two rovers, a lander, and three orbiters), there are many thousands of images available. Only a few, however show atmospheric phenomena. Presented here are some of the best images of Martian atmosphere (and beyond) in action. (17 photos total)
High, wispy clouds cover a large portion of Mars, seen in this, the first true-colour image of Mars generated with the OSIRIS orange (red), green and blue color filters. The image was acquired by an instrument on the ESA's Rosetta probe on Feb. 24, 2007 from a distance of about 240,000 km. Image resolution is about 5 km/pixel. (Credits: ESA © 2007 MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA)
Mars' northern orange sky and horizon, seen by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. The lander's solar panel and Robotic Arm with a sample in the scoop are also visible. The image was taken by the lander's Surface Stereo Imager looking west during Phoenix's Sol 16 (June 10, 2008), or the 16th Martian day after landing. The image was taken just before the sample was delivered to the Optical Microscope. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University)
The brownish gray sky at sunset as it would be seen by an observer on Mars - true color mosaic taken by Mars Pathfinder on sol 24 (June 22, 1996) The sky near the sun is a pale blue color. (NASA/JPL)
High ice cloud over Mars' limb. This composite of red and blue Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images acquired on 6 July 2005 shows an isolated water ice cloud extending more than 30 kilometers (more than 18 miles) above the Martian surface. Clouds such as this are common in late spring over the terrain located southwest of the Arsia Mons volcano. (NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems)
Clouds over crater - the dust storm season in the southern hemisphere of Mars was well underway. This image of an unnamed crater southeast of Hellas Basin shows the encroachment of a storm in the region. Image acquired in 2001 by Mars Odyssey orbiter (17 meter/pixel resolution). (NASA/JPL/ASU)
Dust devil from above. This image taken by the Hi-RISE Camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter catches a dust devil blowing across the Martian surface. Dust devils generally form in the afternoon because the sunlight needs sufficient time to warm the surface. When this image was taken, the local time was about 3:08 p.m. The bright material is the dust within the vortex, and a dark shadow cast by the dust devil is visible to the left. The diameter of this dust devil is about 200 meters, but at the surface it is probably much smaller. Based on the length of the shadow in this image, the dust devil is on the order of 500 meters tall. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)
Several dust devils cross a plain in this animation of a series of images acquired by NASA's Mars Rover Spirit in May, 2005. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS)
A well-defined dust devil crosses in front of the camera in this animation of a series of images acquired by NASA's Mars Rover Spirit in May, 2005. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS)
Martian skies seen above a rolling horizon in this image, part of a larger image called the "McMurdo" panorama, taken in the Martian winter of 2006 by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. The tracks in the soil are from Spirits wheels as it rolled through the area earlier. (NASA/JPL/Cornell)
Clouds above the rim of "Endurance Crater" in this image from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. These clouds occur in a region of strong vertical shear. The cloud particles (ice in this martian case) fall out, and get dragged along away from the location where they originally condensed, forming characteristic streamers. Opportunity took this picture with its navigation camera during the rover's 269th martian day (Oct. 26, 2004). (NASA/JPL)
Early Spring Dust Storms at the North Pole of Mars. Early spring typically brings dust storms to northern polar Mars. As the north polar cap begins to thaw, the temperature difference between the cold frost region and recently thawed surface results in swirling winds. The choppy dust clouds of several dust storms are visible in this mosaic of images taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft in 2002. The white polar cap is frozen carbon dioxide. (NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems)
An exaggerated color image mosaic of images from NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity. The clouds can be composed of either carbon dioxide ice or water ice, and can move swiftly across the sky. (NASA/JPL/Cornell)
Large dust storms cover much of Mars' surface in this July, 2001 image, acquired by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera. By early July, the martian atmosphere was so hazy that opportunities for high resolution imaging of the planet were very limited. (NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems)
The air is certainly thick enough to fill a parachute. On May 25th, 2008, the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this dramatic oblique image of the arrival of its sister probe from NASA, the Phoenix Lander, descending on its parachute. Phoenix and its parachute can be barely seen in the larger image with 10 km wide crater informally called "Heimdall" in the background. Although it appears that Phoenix is descending into the crater, it is actually about 20 kilometers in front of the crater. Given the position and pointing angle of MRO, Phoenix is at about 13 km above the surface, just a few seconds after the parachute opened. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)
On May 19th, 2005, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit captured this stunning view as the Sun sank below the rim of Gusev crater on Mars. This Panoramic Camera mosaic was taken around 6:07 in the evening of the rover's 489th martian day, or sol. Spirit was commanded to stay awake briefly after sending that sol's data to the Mars Odyssey orbiter just before sunset. The image is a false color composite, showing the sky similar to what a human would see, but with the colors slightly exaggerated. (NASA/JPL/Texas A&M/Cornell)
Higher in the Martian skies, we see one of its two moons. The HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this dramatic view of the Martian moon, Phobos, on 23 March 2008, from a distance of 6,800 kilometers. The illuminated part of Phobos is about 21 km across. The most prominent feature is the large impact crater Stickney, in the upper left. With a diameter of 9 km, it is the largest feature on Phobos. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)
Even higher in the Martian sky, the Earth and Moon hang in space, as seen from Mars. The HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this image at 5:20 a.m. MST on October 3rd, 2007, at a range of 142 million kilometers, while orbiting Mars.
More links and information:
Live Martian Weather Report Canadian Space Agency
On Mars No One Can Hear You Scream - studying the physical properties of sound on Mars.
MER Spirit dust devils - listing of many animations
Rosetta - ESA probe circling the inner Solar System, on its way to a rendezvous with Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in May 2014.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - NASA probe
Mars Odyssey Orbiter - NASA probe, 2,432 Days in Orbit around Mars as of 6/20/2008
Phoenix Lander NASA probe on Mars's surface.
Mars Exploration Rovers - NASA's Spirit & Opportunity
ESA's Mars Express - ESA orbiter
Mars Science Laboratory NASA's new Mars rover, scheduled to launch in the Fall of 2009.
'McMurdo' Panorama - panorama from NASA's Spirit rover
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I was born in 1932. I can't imagine what my grandsons' lives may cover in terms of scientific discovery, but, boy! have the last 75 years been great or what?
It Is so great!!!
"We shall fight on the beaches"
Just AMAIZING PICTURES!
And what will happend in the next 50 years or less?
Thanks to NASA - from Ole on the Roemoe iland - Denmark
Disse fantastiske billeder får mig til at elske jordens farver, klima og de våde elementer højere end nogensinde før, og så lever jeg oven i købet med 4 fantastiske årstider –TAK FOR DET.
These fantastic pictures cause me to love the earth colors, climate and the wet elements higher than ever before, and so I live on top of the 4 amazing seasons-THANK GOD.
captivate...
Here are a few Mars factiods for those interested in astronomy;
***
Mars surface gravity is approx. 1/3rd that of Earth - excellent travel spot for serious dieters.
Mars is 66% farther from the Sun than Earth, thus the intensity of t he sunlight the planet receives is about 1/3rd of that of Earth.
A tropical summer near the equator of Mars may yield a temperature of 20 Celsius, and wintertime at the poles sees the temperatur drop to -150 C, enough to freeze Carbon Dioxide (aka 'dry ice'). Mean temperature on Mars is a comfortable -50 C.
Mars atmospheric pressure is a measly (by Earth standards) less-than-1-per-cent of 1 atmosphere, meaning that even if the Mars atmosphere was composed as Earths (coming to that later), you'd need to take 100 breaths to get the same amount of oxygen as on Earth. Note to Marathonners: Avoid this planet.
Atmospheric composition is primarily Carbon Dioxide, with a smidgeon of Nitrogen and Argon. Trace amounts of Oxygen and water vapor are present.
Mars' low gravity means the planet has a serious problem holding on to its atmosphere; any water that happens to be in exposure of sunlight is likely to be split by high-energy ultraviolet light (no ozone layer, either), seperating into Hydrogen and Oxygen - and the hygdrogen is lost to space.
Mars has no significant magnetosphere, meaning the solar wind does its share in stripping the planet of its atmosphere.
The ochre and red surface colours are oxidated iron compounds - i.e. rust. This is another way Marx has lost its water - when water gives away its ocygen to the iron atoms, it splits and again, results in free hydrogen.
The atmosphere colour is orange-ish at day, primarily due to the aforementioned rusty dust in the air. (besiodes, the atmosphere thickness is insufficcient to scatter blue light enough to make it blue like Earth's).
Notable landmarks are Mount Olympus - largest volcano in the Solar System, though extinct - and Valles Marineris -again, the biggest canyon in the soar system. Both make comparable landmarks on Earth seem quite small.
For more information on this travel destination, including recommended hotels and local culture, please refer to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars
I have NO words.......................
Martian Dust Devils how cool was that........
I didn't see any Pacifica, CA Vallemartians from the Vallemar District. Are you sure this is Mars?
Its amazing what some human minds can visualize and bring to fruition.
Gottsuina
(AWESOME in casual Japanese, especially used in west Japan)
Why is the Earth Crescent so big when viewed from Mars -when Mars is just the size of a star when viewed from Earth? Is is taken from a huge photo lens or something?
it's fantastic!
Breathtaking...These pictures remind me of those dreams I used to have, no I still have that I want to go 'out there' :D
cool dust storms
‚·‚²[‚¢
IT IS SO GREAT!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry there are those who still believe the wonders in outer space are the result of an accident. These awesome pictures provide man with a close-up of but a minute peek into at the wonders of God. Those who are thinking, truly thinking, should ask of themselves, "Have I been wrong all these years?" God tells us in (Genesis 1), "In the beginning God created the heavens and earth...."He also says, "Those with eyes to see and ears to hear." We should all be able to see intellegent design and perfection in the photos provided. Thanks NASA
ÅŒã‚Ì3–‡‚É—Ž—Ü
l—Þ‚Í‚±‚±‚Ü‚Å—ˆ‚½‚ñ‚¾‚È‚ EEE
wow amazing if there is clouds mean water if water means life on planet
where is MARVIN?.....the MARTIAN
nyenyenyenye(@_@)
cooL!!!
I would like close up photos of the face on Mars, that would be awesome .Ive always wondered about that!
I feel so small
I now have a sense of what it would be like to be on Mars. If that's not incredible enough the image of Earth and Moon from Mars blew me away.
The sunset almost as on the Earth. It is difficult to believe in it. I am struck seen.
Thanks.
I loved the dust storm video, the way you could virtually see it. And I was amazed by how many crater holes Mar's moon had.
wow i can beleave that there might be life on mars
the horizon pictures i thought were the most amazing... and the dust devil pictures... if i did know they were pictures of Mars, i would've thought the horizon pictures were taken from some exotic place here on earth!
i'm a 100% convinced that Mars will be our new home after seeing these pictures and reading all that info. Only wish i'd live long enough to see the day
chita picture
I BELEIVE LIFE ON MARS IS UNDERGROUND.......CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE ??
WELL, this would make a great place to send all of the Drug Pushers, Rapists,
Children Killers, and most of the convicted persons of capital crimes. We would nvever need to build any more jails. If a jail break on Mars took place, who cares where they would go. Oh, Yes, don't forget, not to send them with more than 5 days rations.
nice
Harika resimler, bence burada yaşanmış daha önce....
"Mars aint the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it's cold as hell."
Elton John was right!
I wonder what the rest of the world is doing in regards to space exploration?
Nice job, Mr Taylor. This is a great resource for some great perspectives on our red brother (sister). You have made, in an incalcuable way, a place to disseminate a lot of Martian knowledge in a very brief space with these beautiful pictures.
As a note, I wish that people wouldn't use sites like this, those that attempt to objectively disseminate facts and observations of our truly awe-inspiring solar system and Universe, to push their personal beliefs and agendas. In case you haven't taken my meaning: simply, don't orate on personal (taught) Earth-centric, unscientific , religion-based dogmas in these forums. Believe what you will, but to esponse on it here has no point that I can see other than to validate the writer's sense of his or her righteousness.
Learn from the observables, live in peace, and prosper.
Yes, Mars has global warming of about 8 degrees, rather than warming 'within the range of normal' that Earth exhibits. How does Al Gore and David Suzuki explain Martian global warming? Are there SUVs up there? Maybe there are colonies of Al Gore 30,000 s.f. houses on Mars.
Thank God Starbucks isnt there yet...
Thank you to all who spent their youth studying how to make things like these wonderful pictures happen. Thanks for working on it every day dispite our (the public's) lack of attention and appreciation. You make it a great thing to be human!
Lindo, lindo, lindo! Podia morar em Marte que não me importava nada...
Spectacular pictures! Makes the spirit soar. Ray Bradbury where are you?
I am glad my mother was both an artist and a scientist.
Go NASA!!!
Simply amazing no McDonalds or Starbucks. This is well worth the investment and surely will benifit millions in the future.
unbelievable !!!!
Incredible what technology can bring to us these days....WOW!!!!
With tec advances, someday we will be able to produce an atmosphere on Mars. This will be the best chance we have to expand ourselves.
Thanks, dear brother, for sharing what I would never have seen otherwise!
THESE ARE GOOD ONES. I'M A GRAPHIC ARTIST. ANYONE WHO DOPES NOT BELIEVE THESE ARE TRUE IS TOTALLY IGNORANT. EVERYTHING MUST BE PROVED TO THEM. I DO RESEARCH AND I KNOW THEY ARE TRUE. THE ONLY THING EVER IS IN QUESTION IS HOW MUCH AIRBRUSHING WAS DONE SO WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE EVIDENCE. ONE PHOTO HERE I BELIEVE IS ONE WITH THE PYRAMIDS, A MAN MADE OBJECT WHEN YOU SEE TEN OR MORE AS IT SHOWS HERE. THEY MAY BE PILES BUT THEY ARE REALLY HIGH UP. I SPEAK OF THE MOON SERIES. BUT RESPOND TO THOSE WHO WON'T BELIEVE UFO'S OR ANY EVIDENCE WITH THEIR OWN EYES. I'M A ARTIST FIRST AND GRAPHIC ARTIST SECOND. 50 YEARS IN RESEARCH. - TDR
Really cool pictures but how many tax dollars did it cost to look at another planet. How about we try taking care of our own
uhh. wonderfull
those pics r sssssssssssssssoooooooooooooooooooo cool i mean who would not like them???!!
These pictures are truely amazing. God gave us this one small planet earth and yet we seem not able hold in peace. Those who disturb the earth end up inside the sun, fuels. My beloved father, Wadinga, is not there. He is on one cool cool planet , somewhere far away, where NASA cannot reach with its tower of Babylon.
The photos are truely amazing!
But what more spectacular is how dumb and morally bankrupt some people are who have posted their "comments" here.
Yes, we are so small within this universe of ours.
How come people think we have the power to change our climate?
You know, it was 10 or 20 degrees hotter during the Middle Ages and during the Roman Empire.
I wonder what language the Roman Senate had to conjure to eliminate Roman Army SUV's???
Huh?
And who came first? God or science?
amazing everything,im old ,was married in 1950 ,in my wildest dreams i never thought anyone would go to the moon ,and here we are aming for mars.unbeliveable
cooool!!! ive never think that it could be true but its all lol.
It's always great to have your mind blown all over again. Incredible. The images of sublime sunsets and scurrying dust devils blowing across vast empty plains so very far away, away from man's influence...simply incredible!
Nice Blog. Good Look
When I was a kid I wanted to go see Mars. Now, I would be so pleased to watch some other tourist's videos. (A bit too brrrrr and barren for me, personally -- but viewed from afar -- how wonderful!
Thank you so much for making these images available to us.
cool
this is the most awsome website i've ever seen
wow
Thanks for compiling these photos and putting decent captions on them. Gives a great perspective that is hard to get with a few hi-res photos here and there. I wish more of this type of thing were done.
#326 you are right on target!
#327 and #342, re. global warming on Earth and Mars. First, you should listen to #326. Regarding global warming, where in the world do you get your information? 8 degrees of global warming on Mars?? Give me a break. We don't know a temperature history for Mars. People like you choose to believe some nonsense "published" on the internet that is convenient for you, rather than actual scientific observations. Earth has been much colder and warmer in the past, but it's the RATE of change that is critical.
Great Photos; Thankyou! just been wondering though..with all the photos of mars and now venus with such high resolution instruments, why not more pictures available for the public? Would be great from the global to the details of clouds and ice etc. Also would be a great way TO MOTIVATE GREATER PUBLIC INTEREST in the exploration of our solar sytem; perhaps leading to eventual terraforming to promote life beyond our current planet Earth and as such an insurance policy to protect it against a possible cosmic catastrophe to our home planet. Keep up the good work!
Mars have very high plataws and very deep vallies. I think the denisty of the atmosphere vary very mauch from the highest spots to the lowest. At the lowest areas the density and temperature may be so high that it can support liquid water.
Knut Holt
http://www.mydeltapi.com
I'm relly amazed at the Mars images. I would like to thank NASA to release the images for all. Images are really increadible. I can't belive that I am watching the image of Mars.
I'll wait to watch more and more images of Mars.
God bless you guys! Thank you for this pictures,i love discovery.
Thank you sooooo much... This made my day.
Absolutely breathtaking! If they ever need volunteers for a colonization project, I'm there!
On the downside, the true ignorance and inability of people to believe anything outside the realm of the small day to day existence is mind boggling. Space is real, space exploration is real. Every day we are one step closer to realizing a future in which interplanetary travel is commonplace.
wow
Gud Morning War planet ..............wat a supernatural scens u have.....................Wow..........Dam Gud.......Luv u Gof bless u guys.
amazing
The picture of the earth and the moon seem to me out of proportion to one and other.
G
Its Really Amazing... Wowwwwwwwwwww Great. I enjoyed it alot.
Thanks NASA
Let's raise a glass to the scientists who made this happen.
sweeeeet,awsom pics
Great photo's, I bet a block of wood on Mars would fetch a tidy sum in the future, noting the lack of trees around the planet.
Amazing..........I wanna be an astraunet........to visit this wonderful planet
I think we may open a ho-house there.
Subliminent, and all that dashing sand and places for rubbing your stuff - know what I mean.
excelent pictures
excelent pictures
To all wondering about the famous "Face on Mars": NASA has made better pictures of that thing in 1998 and 2001. In these high resolution pictures the face doesn't look like a face anymore.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast24may_1.htm
That is the coolest,NASA you rock,I want to be the first person to ever walk Mars.
I am impressed!!!!
I am profoundly grateful to all the humans whose advanced technology to such levels that I am gifted with these remarkable pictures. If there ever was life in Mars, then we really ought to take better care of our little blue planet.
Outsourcing Solution in Call Center
wowowoo
IT IS UNBLIVEBLE.
IT IS WONDERFUL AND INTERESTING PICTURE.I HOPE LIFE WILL SURVIVE ON MARS,THANK YOU!!!
ommmmmgggggg those picss aree soo cool i wish i could go to marssss!!!!!
=]
spectacular pictures!!!
the sunset picture reminds me of a shot in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
special thanks from Tokyo, Japan
My God... it's full of stars.....
run
that is VERY cool(*_*)
This is great!!! I am wondering if there is really life in other planets...just remember that we are not the only existing galaxy in the universe. I hope someday I could see and hear a real testimony about life in Mars with factual evidence. I will wait until death! Thanks for all your contribution and efforts!
Is there life on mars???
Mars is a dead planet which is now too old to support human life. We could make an effort to establish ourselves there, but at great risk. Not worth it since there is no real magnetosphere. The sun will give everyone cancers from radiation.
Also, it is TRUELY disappointing that people still cling to old superstitions of diety(s) creating this and that. I read thru most of the comments and I'm aghast to the idea that poeple think its 'god's' creation. Embarassingly, these same people even think that they are correct and that they probably think that they are enlightened to their version of reality .One thing is certain: death and stupid people!
da pics r realy cooooooooooooooooool
its wonderfull to see but if u dont find any life & no one can still reach phisically there so what is the achievement for now & future?
china!!