The Red Planet
Mars, also called as the Red Planet has much more than simply rocks and red dust. Here are NASA’s images that reveal a much-hidden beauty and mystery. Images that were taken by the rovers also tell stories about Mars.
We have been searching through the archives to create a selection of the greatest and best photographs from NASA. Indeed, they have collected several images that are really fascinating and surprising.
Devils in the Sand
An image from 2012 showed a huge dust devil that is projecting a snake-like shape across the surface of the red planet. It was captured by NASA’s High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) satellite on the Mars Obiter.
Scientists estimate the dust devil to be around 800 meters tall and 30 meters in circumference. For the human eye, the dust devil is giant in size, and it seems to appear like a cloud-like structure and white in color.
Spiders From South Pole
Disclaimer: These are not huge aliens. They look like one but they’re actually cracks on Mars’ surface. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter obtained this photo in 2009, showcasing a location of the South Pole of Mars where cracks have emerged on the surface.
Experts assume that these cracks are the results of the release of carbon dioxide from melting ice and evaporated into the atmosphere. It is a relief that these are not in motion, otherwise, we can’t tell what would happen.
Curiosity Took a Photo of Itself
The compiled photographs of Mars would not be complete without the rover taking a photo of itself. In 2015, this shot of the rover was captured. The image shows compiled photos that were taken at the “Mojave” area, where the rover collectsed samples of rocks through digging for exploration.
Curiosity also took images from Rocknest, John Klein, and Windjana while in the process of analyzing the landscape. It is a brilliant idea that rovers wander the surface of Mars conducting critical analysis for the benefit of the entire human race.
The Surface’ Sand and Frost
Pictures of sand dunes in the northern part of Mars were also captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2018. These appeared to have a light-colored covering of sand blown over the darker sandy areas.
Close inspection reveals some spots of dry ice along the dunes’ very margins, spots that would swiftly convert to gas throughout the summer. The process of converting ice to gas is known as sublimation.
A Mound of Sand
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter also captured an image from a region of Mars with classic barchan dunes- a crescent-shaped mount of sand. These sand dunes have accumulated inside the Lyot Crater’s floor.
When color is enhanced, one region of the dunes appears to be a cool turquoise blue. This indicates that it is formed of a much finer material than the rest of the dunes. In 2017, another photograph from the same location displays the crater’s odd and beautiful features.
Ice-Cold Exterior
The image shows thick frosty layers on the surface of Mars from the north pole view. There’s more to it than simply rocks and sands. There are more incredible features unseen that we can not even imagine.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this photo which also roamed to collect for seasonal frost in that region. Imagine how fascinating the rover is, while gathering samples and conducting analysis, it also captures images.
Avalanches
This image is one of those series from the Northern Polar regions of Mars. This location has changed dramatically over the years, with new ice blocks emerging as well as sections of ice cliff crumbling. NASA offers a very cool view of what’s going on as well.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this image and operates to recapture images of Mars which were taken years ago for comparisons. Dramatic changes have been evident over the years, especially since it was taken last 2006.
Natural Gas Depot
Mars Orbiter captured an image from the regions of Chryse Planitia near the equator of the planet in 2018. It showed a vast dune that is known to have a measurement of hundreds of meters.
Experts were uncertain with the origin of this land formation but they assumed these dunes are formed due to the lava eruptions or a puddle of boiling mud underneath the surface. If it’s the latter, it could indicate the presence of methane on Mars, which experts have been seeking for some time now.
Nili Patera
Nili Patera’s image shows an interesting perception of the weather of Mars. The dunes indicate that the wind blew from east to west across the area in the image. With the traces of what has happened, scientists can assume a lot of things.
The movement and repositioning of the sand are consistent as the wind continues to blow sand around. The feature is somehow similar to the surface of an ocean where wind also blows.
The Surface and History
The images did not just offer spectacular views of the planet but also provided insights to be studied here on Earth about the history of Mars. “The layers of Mars reflect its history. The varying shades of light-toned layers, such as sediments indicate erosion as depicted in this image captured by the HiRISE satellite on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The narrow sandbanks snaking through the rocks.
Similar to the human eyes, HiRISE utilizes visible wavelengths, only it has a lens that allows it to produce images with spectacular resolutions that is yet never seen before in planetary exploration missions. Through this resolution, it allows experts to recognize 1-meter size objects on Mars and examines the exterior’s morphology in more detail than ever before,”.
Trails of the Sand
Dust devils, which are well-formed and vigorous whirlwinds of varied sizes that whip up dirt on the surface, are a regular occurrence on Mars’ exterior, much as they are on Earth. This fact may contribute to the indication that Mars also experiences seasons.
Long dark trails can be seen where these whirlwinds went through and blew around. The material behind the ordinary surface dirt and dust is shown by the darker lines. The darker lines may also indicate traces of elements on the surface.
Brain Topography
“Brain Terrain”, a superb odd photograph of Mars’ exterior, is one of the planet’s unsolved wonders. The bumps and dips that can be found across Mars compromise this strange-looking textural topography.
The assumption about the cause of the textural structure of brain terrain is known to be the water buried underneath the surface as it sublimates and is released from the land. It requires a lot of evidence to prove the fact though. Another angle of the same location depicts the oddly strange weaving pattern of the landscape and it is indeed similar to the human brain.
Dust Storm
The Hubble Space Telescope in 2018 took an image of Mars as it approached Earth for the first time since 2003. It is noticeable in the picture that Mars is experiencing a raging dust storm all through it. A bright blanket of clouds is evident in both poles of the planet.
Phobos and Deimos are the two moons surrounding Mars, they are the bright dots that are visible in the image. Unlike the Earth which only has one moon, Mars has two moons orbiting around it.
A Tattooed Planet
The Russell Crater dune area is shown in this image from 2007. Carbon dioxide frost frequently blankets this part of Mars. It shows that the frost is due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide that freezes.
The area changes dramatically after the frost vaporizes. Patches of the remains of the frost can be observed. The black markings are the rust from dust devils that spread throughout the area.
Summer Sceneries
Depicted in this picture is Mars’ Southern hemisphere during the summer season. It might be confusing to some to the fact that the image shows mountain ranges that are coated in ice and snow.
The peaks of the mountain ranges appear to be coated in ice and snow, but NASA says that’s impossible during the summer, instead it’s more likely to be mineral deposits. Fascinating, indeed!
Deuteronilus Mensae Region on Mars
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an image showcasing the region of Deuteronilus Mensae of Mars. In the right part of the photo, a lobe-shaped feature can be evident that looks like an eye.
The shape is assumed to form due to the frosty regions of the area that sublimates and evaporates. Every scientific process that occurs on Mars always results in fascinating features.
Primitive Bedrock
Nirgal Valles, one of Mars’ longest valleys, showed some straight ridges in the primitive bedrock that makes up the planet’s exterior. The valley is in a rusty-like color that may have significance.
This bedrock is assumed to have hardened over time, allowing it to endure billions of years of erosion. From an intriguing view, this is a remarkable achievement. The results of erosions signify the history of the red planet.
Incredible Mesa
From Mars’ surface, another amazing photo was captured revealing sand dunes surrounding a small mesa. Mesa has a lot of sedimentary remains around the area and it means it is heavily eroded.
A magnificent view of the power of nature on Mars and how it responds to the surroundings. The image resembles an island surrounded by bodies of water, where the wind also blows.
Saheki’s Hidden Layers
Saheki Crater is around 84 kilometers across the planet. Alluvial fans filled the crater that was formed when melting snow with varying matters below from the ridge of the crater into the center.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this magnificent, colorful and mysterious piece of ground. The colorful matter that is evident in the image may indicate the presence of different matter or elements.
The Exterior’s Layers
The exterior of Mars is made up mostly of sands and dirt and other elements that layered the bedrock underneath. It is noticeable that this area of the planet showed the exposed elements to the bedrock.
The surface of red bedrock is visible here that appears to be similar to age rings. The exposed elements could vary in kind because different colors are evident in the image. But it is noticeable that the red bedrock dominates the area.
Colorful Impact: Hargraves Crater
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an image where it showed an area of Mars that has been hit by varying different orbital debris. An indication of colorful minerals and elements that are in the surroundings proved to be rich in different bedrock surfaces.
An unusual outcome is the incredibly colorful photo of Mars. The abundance of different elements is clearly evident in this area. This image did not just reveal a spectacular view but also reveal the abundance of elements on Mars.
Impacts of the Crater
The impact of hundreds of asteroids on a regular basis caused the constant changes of the exterior of Mars. Compared to the Earth, Mars has a way thinner atmosphere indicating that it is less protected when in terms of outer space dangers.
The image showed a new crater formed due to an explosion of destructive debris in all directions. The exposed matter varies in color and in this explosion, exposed a great variety of matter.
Tadpole-shaped Crater
A crater on Mars’ surface has an unusual view that resembles a tadpole. The tail of this crater was most likely formed by water flowing downhill from the crater. Several craters are formed in the surface of Mars and this one is so unusual.
Craters are formed due to the fallen matter from outer space like asteroids. Images like this would be helpful for scientists who study the geography of the area and how water existed and interact with the environment.
Meridiani Planum
Fascinating layers of remains and faults that have clean-cut edges were captured in Meridiani Planum. Observations in this area suggest that faulting occurred while the deposits were still soft.
When layers were still softs, deformation is still possible. Some may have formed also when the layers were in solid-state already. Thanks to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter it captured the fantastic view.
Mount Sharp
The view from NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover is shown in this photograph. From Curiosity’s perspective, Mount Sharp can be visible and the rocky surface of the planet appears to be daunting.
Mount Sharp, also known as Aeolis Mons forms the central peak within the crater Gale. In 2017, Curiosity took a photo of Mount Sharp, which experts assume to be more abundant in sediments than rocks.
Chemical Change
Mars may not have much to look at right now, nonetheless, it is full of amazing scenery that tells stories about its past. Most likely, water must have flowed on Mars in the past, creating channels through the landscape and moving sediments with it. This photograph represents a spectral study taken from orbit, which reveals chemical changes in the surface induced by the water.
An image from the crater Jezero reveals its surface to be rich in clay and carbonates. This is said to have an age of over 3.6 billion years and is most likely to have ancient organic compounds and microscopic life signs. This is why NASA chose this region as the landing site for the next Rover, which will travel on Mars in 2020.
Geological History of Mars
On Mars, there are regions of the planet that has sediments on the surface just like on Earth. The geological history of the planet incredibly reflects its outcome, the layers. Mars is indeed more than just a red planet.
Fascinating features tell a story and history of the planet. Incredible views presented different forms of matter available on Mars that may explain the occurrences of the different structures that contribute to how fascinating the planet is.
Avalanche Near the North Pole of Mars
An avalanched occurred on a 1640 foot tall cliff around the area of Mars’ north pole. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image in May 2019. The image reveals the north pole’s layer during spring.
The avalanche was caused by the increased surface temperature during the season, which in turn causes ice to melt and shatters ice blocks and scatters particles. The results are quite magnificent when viewed from above.