Sunny Priyan
This combined Hubble image captures Mars from December 28–30, 2024, when the planet was about 61 million miles from Earth.
Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI
Thin water-ice clouds that are apparent in ultraviolet light give the Red Planet a frosty appearance. The icy northern polar cap was experiencing the start of Martian spring.
Image Credit: Pixabay
The left image shows Mars’ bright orange Tharsis plateau with its dormant volcanoes, including Olympus Mons near the northwest limb at 10 o’clock.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Rising 70,000 feet-2.5 times Everest-Olympus Mons towers near Valles Marineris, while evening clouds drift along Mars’ eastern limb in the right image.
Image Credit: Pixabay
The 1,400-mile-wide Hellas basin, an ancient asteroid impact feature, appears far to the south.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Most of the hemisphere is dominated by the classical “shark fin” feature, Syrtis Major.
Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI