Latest news with #MarsOdyssey
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA captures images of 12-mile-tall volcano on this nearby planet
A NASA orbiter has captured a stunning image of a giant volcano on Mars. The panorama, captured on May 2 by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, shows Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanos on the Red Planet. MORE: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano shoots lava 1,000 feet in the air in latest eruption In the photo, the volcano, which is 12 miles tall, can be seen peeking through the planet's morning clouds just before dawn. Arsia Mons -- along with two other volcanoes -- form the Tharsis Mountains, according to NASA. This is the first time an image of one of the volcanos has been captured on the planet's horizon, according to NASA. The view offers the same perspective of Mars that astronauts have of Earth when looking down from the International Space Station, NASA said. MORE: Scientists solve mystery of 'zombie' volcano displaying signs of eruption for decades The Odyssey, designed to study the Martian surface, was launched in 2001 and is the longest-running mission orbiting another planet, according to the space agency. In 2023, Odyssey began pursuing high-altitude images of the Martian horizon, rotating 90 degrees while in orbit to capture the unique images. The angle allowed researchers to better see the layers of cloud and dust and observe changes over the course of seasons, according to NASA. MORE: NASA exploring two lower-cost options to go forward with Mars Sample Return mission "We're seeing some really significant seasonal differences in these horizon images," NASA planetary scientist Michael Smith said in a statement. "It's giving us new clues to how Mars' atmosphere evolves over time."
10-06-2025
- Science
Image of giant volcano on Mars captured by NASA orbiter
The volcano was seen peeking through the morning clouds. 0:27 A NASA orbiter has captured a stunning image of a giant volcano on Mars. The panorama, captured on May 2 by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, shows Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanos on the Red Planet. In the photo, the volcano, which is 12 miles tall, can be seen peeking through the planet's morning clouds just before dawn. Arsia Mons -- along with two other volcanoes -- form the Tharsis Mountains, according to NASA. This is the first time an image of one of the volcanos has been captured on the planet's horizon, according to NASA. The view offers the same perspective of Mars that astronauts have of Earth when looking down from the International Space Station, NASA said. The Odyssey, designed to study the Martian surface, was launched in 2001 and is the longest-running mission orbiting another planet, according to the space agency. In 2023, Odyssey began pursuing high-altitude images of the Martian horizon, rotating 90 degrees while in orbit to capture the unique images. The angle allowed researchers to better see the layers of cloud and dust and observe changes over the course of seasons, according to NASA. "We're seeing some really significant seasonal differences in these horizon images," NASA planetary scientist Michael Smith said in a statement. "It's giving us new clues to how Mars' atmosphere evolves over time."
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
12-mile-tall volcano on Mars punches through clouds
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A bit after sunrise on June 6, 2025, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter saw one of Mars' biggest volcanoes, Arsia Mons, as it broke through the clouds. The volcano is the cloudiest of the Tharsis volcanoes, a trio that is tightly aligned on Mars' surface. Standing at over 12 miles (20 kilometers) with a diameter of 270 miles (450km), Arsia Mons is nearly twice as high as Mauna Loa, Earth's largest volcano, which sits at 6 miles (9 kilometers) from the seafloor. Due to its height, Arsia Mons is often covered by clouds that form when expanded air that was blown up the sides of the volcano rapidly cools. These clouds can be especially thick during aphelion, a period where Mars is farthest from the sun in its orbit. Clouds that form during this time at the planet's equator are known as the aphelion cloud belt, according to NASA. Arsia Mons is the southernmost volcano in a trio called the Tharsis Montes, or the Tharsis mountains, which are located in Mars' western hemisphere near its equator. The alignment of the Tharsis volcanoes suggests that a large fracture may have been responsible for the eruptions that formed all three volcanoes, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). To the northwest of the group stands Olympus Mons, the biggest volcano in the solar system, at 16 miles (25 kilometers) high. Because of its cloud cover, Arsia Mons has been hard to photograph. This new image from NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter gives a first-of-its kind view at the peak of the volcano. The picture is also the first time any of the three Tharsis volcanoes has been captured on the horizon, offering a similar perspective as what astronauts see from the International Space Station when they view Earth, according to NASA. Unlike other regions of the planet, the clouds that surround this volcano are made of water ice, which remains in Mars' atmosphere most of the year. In fact, the Martian atmosphere contains more water vapor than the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere, according to JPL. Other areas of Mars contain dust storms made of carbon dioxide clouds. Studying these cloud formations helps experts to better understand how storms form and occur on the Red Planet. You can read more about Martian volcanoes and cloud storms as scientists dive further into the features of our planetary neighbor.
Hans India
09-06-2025
- Science
- Hans India
NASA captures stunning image of Mars' towering volcano Arsia Mons
NASA Captures Stunning Image of Mars' Towering Volcano Arsia Mons Piercing Through Dawn Clouds In a breathtaking new image, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft has captured the massive Martian volcano Arsia Mons rising through pre-dawn clouds, offering an Earth-like yet entirely alien view from orbit. Photographed on May 2, 2025, the image shows Arsia Mons breaking through a blanket of water ice clouds, captured in a greenish atmospheric haze. The image was taken while the orbiter was turned 90 degrees midway around Mars — a rare maneuver to capture the planet's horizon, much like how astronauts see Earth from space. A Unique Vantage Point Mars Odyssey, the longest-operating spacecraft in orbit around another planet, used its THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System) to collect this image. THEMIS, primarily designed to study surface temperature, has been used since 2023 to scan Mars' upper atmosphere and horizon. The latest capture showcases a rare and fleeting Martian weather pattern: early morning water ice clouds forming over the massive Tharsis Montes volcanoes. These clouds are most prominent during Mars' aphelion — when the planet is farthest from the Sun — creating a cloudy equatorial band, with Arsia Mons towering above. Colossal and Cloudy: Arsia Mons Standing at 20 kilometers high, Arsia Mons is nearly twice as tall as Mauna Loa in Hawaii, making it one of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system. Its height and shape encourage thick cloud formation each Martian morning as cold air condenses while rising up its slopes. NASA scientists, hoping to catch this exact moment, aimed Odyssey's camera at Arsia Mons — and the result did not disappoint. 'It's not just visually stunning; it's scientifically valuable,' said Jonathon Hill of Arizona State University, operations manager for THEMIS. Cracking the Code of Martian Weather The horizon view helps scientists understand seasonal and atmospheric changes on Mars. Michael D. Smith from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center noted that these images are revealing critical patterns that could impact future mission planning, including spacecraft landings. THEMIS also detects visible and infrared light, helping identify subsurface water ice — a potential resource for future astronauts. It even observes Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, for surface composition data. A Mission That Keeps on Giving With support from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin Space, Odyssey continues to inspire after more than 20 years in orbit. THEMIS, designed by Arizona State University, remains a cornerstone in Martian exploration. Thanks to this new perspective, the Martian sky is offering more secrets — and scientists are ready to uncover them one image at a time.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA captures image of Mars' Arsia Mons volcano, nearly twice the height of Earth's tallest mountain
Image source: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA has captured a breathtaking image of Arsia Mons, one of Mars' most massive volcanoes, towering nearly twice the height of any mountain on Earth. Captured at dawn by the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter, the photograph shows the volcano piercing through a layer of early morning haze, offering a surreal glimpse into the Martian horizon. Beyond its visual beauty, the image provides crucial scientific insights into Mars' volcanic past and atmospheric behaviour. Located in the Tharsis region, Arsia Mons' immense scale and persistent cloud cover make it a key subject for studying the Red Planet's evolving climate and geology. NASA's Mars Odyssey captures stunning image of Arsia Mons volcano NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft captured the breathtaking photo of Arsia Mons using its Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). The image is of the volcano above a green-colored haze of clouds passing over the Martian horizon at sunrise. The summit caldera of Arsia Mons is 120 kilometers wide, and it is larger than most volcanoes on Earth. For comparison, Arsia Mons is approximately 20 kilometers high, roughly twice as tall as Mauna Loa in Hawaii, the tallest volcano on Earth and roughly 9 kilometers higher than the sea bed. "We were hoping to grab Arsia Mons rising above morning clouds—and it surely didn't disappoint," joined Arizona State University's THEMIS operations lead Jonathon Hill. NASA studies Martian clouds and seasons using Arsia Mons observations Arsia Mons is located in the Tharsis province of volcanoes on Mars, which has three colossal volcanoes. The southernmost and typically cloudiest of the three is Arsia Mons. Its thick cloud cover is most common at Mars' aphelion—the time when Mars is farthest from the Sun. The clouds play an important role in Martian climate observation and phenomena like the planet's notorious dust storms. To record such seldom-observed horizon vistas, the Mars Odyssey orbiter performs a special 90-degree rotation maneuver so that its primarily ground-pointing camera may take pictures of the planet's atmospheric horizon. This special technique enables scientists to track dust and water-ice clouds and analyze their seasonal trends. Planetary scientist Michael D. Smith at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center commented, "The horizon images exhibit large seasonal variations. These measurements are teaching us new things about how Mars' atmosphere varies with time." Why Arsia Mons volcano image matters In addition to its photographic attractiveness, the image of the Arsia Mons contains rich scientific information about Mars' geology and climate. Scientists gain a better understanding of predicting weather, dust storm formation, and the workings of larger-scale planetary phenomena by examining such volcanic formations and their interaction with the atmosphere. This image is particularly important as the space agencies of the world hasten plans to send man to Mars and increase robotic missions to the Red Planet. Such images pave the way for more safe and informed voyages to the Red Planet and take man one step closer to discovering its mysteries. Also Read | June 2025 stargazing: Witness the rare glimpse of the Milky Way's glowing core, planetary alignments and more this month; here's how
