Latest news with #THEMIS
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Mars orbiter captures 1st-ever pic of volcano above clouds: It's twice as tall as Mauna Loa
A NASA spacecraft that has been circling Mars for more than two decades recently spotted something it never has before in well over 100,000 orbits of the Red Planet. On a morning horizon in May, the Odyssey spacecraft caught a stunning glimpse of one of the planet's largest volcanoes peeking out above a canopy of clouds. Known as Arsia Mons, the volcano dwarfs Earth's tallest volcanoes. Odyssey snapped some photos of the volcano in May, which NASA released in June in a blog post. Scientists at the U.S. space agency say the images provide far more than just a striking never-before-seen view of the Martian geography. In fact, studying the features detailed in Odyssey's photos could help NASA prepare for future crewed missions to Mars by better understanding the planet's weather and atmosphere. Here's a look at what Odyssey captured and what to know about the volcano, Arsia Mons. The new panorama captured by the Odyssey orbiter shows one of Mars' tallest volcanoes poking through clouds just before dawn. The image marks the first time a Martian volcano can be seen on the planet's horizon, offering what NASA says is a view akin to what astronauts on the International Space Station have of Earth. Odyssey's camera, called the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS,) is built to study the Martian surface. The THEMIS camera is equipped to view Mars in both visible and infrared light, the second of which allows scientists to identify subsurface areas that contain water ice. Such a resource would be an invaluable source of not only water, but a means to produce oxygen and fuel for crewed spacecraft when the first astronauts land on Mars. Odyssey rotated 90 degrees while orbiting Mars so that its camera had the correct angle to capture the shot, which, by revealing the horizon, allows scientists to observe seasonal changes on the Red Planet. Understandin the planet's weather, including its dust storms, could also help the space agency plan for future human spaceflights, according to NASA. The volcano Odyssey spotted is known as Arsia Mons, which is one of three on Mars forming the Tharsis Montes, or Tharsis Mountains. While clouds composed of carbon dioxide are common on Mars, the Martian mountain range is instead often surrounded by water ice clouds, especially in the morning, NASA says. Odyssey's latest horizon image, captured May 2, indicates that Arsia Mons stands 12 miles high. That's roughly twice as tall as Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which rises six miles above the seafloor. The southernmost of the Tharsis volcanoes, Arsia Mons is also the cloudiest of the three. The clouds, which form when air expands as it blows up the sides of the mountain and rapidly cools, are especially thick when Mars is farthest from the sun. The band of clouds that forms across the planet's equator at this time of year, called the aphelion cloud belt, is on prominent display in Odyssey's new panorama. 'We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds," Jonathon Hill, a researcher at Arizona State University who is the operations lead for THEMIS, said in a statement. "And it didn't disappoint.' Launched in 2001, Odyssey is the longest-running mission orbiting any planet besides Earth. The orbiter is also one of two spacecrafts orbiting Mars under threat of being axed under President Donald Trump's budget proposal for NASA. Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Odyssey completed its primary science mission from February 2002 through August 2004. Since then, the orbiter has set out to study Martian clouds, fog and frost while mapping the surface to pave the way for future crewed landings. The newest panorama, NASA said, represents the kind of science the orbiter began pursuing in 2023, when it captured the first of its now four high-altitude images of the Martian horizon. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mars orbiter gets 1st-ever glimpse of volcano above clouds: See photo
USA Today
3 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
Mars orbiter captures 1st-ever pic of volcano above clouds: It's twice as tall as Mauna Loa
Mars orbiter captures 1st-ever pic of volcano above clouds: It's twice as tall as Mauna Loa Known as Arsia Mons, the volcano on Mars dwarfs Earth's tallest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii. A NASA spacecraft that has been circling Mars for more than two decades recently spotted something it never has before in well over 100,000 orbits of the Red Planet. On a morning horizon in May, the Odyssey spacecraft caught a stunning glimpse of one of the planet's largest volcanoes peeking out above a canopy of clouds. Known as Arsia Mons, the volcano dwarfs Earth's tallest volcanoes. Odyssey snapped some photos of the volcano in May, which NASA released in June in a blog post. Scientists at the U.S. space agency say the images provide far more than just a striking never-before-seen view of the Martian geography. In fact, studying the features detailed in Odyssey's photos could help NASA prepare for future crewed missions to Mars by better understanding the planet's weather and atmosphere. Here's a look at what Odyssey captured and what to know about the volcano, Arsia Mons. Mars orbiter spots volcano peeking above clouds The new panorama captured by the Odyssey orbiter shows one of Mars' tallest volcanoes poking through clouds just before dawn. The image marks the first time a Martian volcano can be seen on the planet's horizon, offering what NASA says is a view akin to what astronauts on the International Space Station have of Earth. Odyssey's camera, called the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS,) is built to study the Martian surface. The THEMIS camera is equipped to view Mars in both visible and infrared light, the second of which allows scientists to identify subsurface areas that contain water ice. Such a resource would be an invaluable source of not only water, but a means to produce oxygen and fuel for crewed spacecraft when the first astronauts land on Mars. Odyssey rotated 90 degrees while orbiting Mars so that its camera had the correct angle to capture the shot, which, by revealing the horizon, allows scientists to observe seasonal changes on the Red Planet. Understandin the planet's weather, including its dust storms, could also help the space agency plan for future human spaceflights, according to NASA. What is Arsia Mons volcano? The volcano Odyssey spotted is known as Arsia Mons, which is one of three on Mars forming the Tharsis Montes, or Tharsis Mountains. While clouds composed of carbon dioxide are common on Mars, the Martian mountain range is instead often surrounded by water ice clouds, especially in the morning, NASA says. Odyssey's latest horizon image, captured May 2, indicates that Arsia Mons stands 12 miles high. That's roughly twice as tall as Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which rises six miles above the seafloor. The southernmost of the Tharsis volcanoes, Arsia Mons is also the cloudiest of the three. The clouds, which form when air expands as it blows up the sides of the mountain and rapidly cools, are especially thick when Mars is farthest from the sun. The band of clouds that forms across the planet's equator at this time of year, called the aphelion cloud belt, is on prominent display in Odyssey's new panorama. 'We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds," Jonathon Hill, a researcher at Arizona State University who is the operations lead for THEMIS, said in a statement. "And it didn't disappoint.' What is the Martian Odyssey orbiter? Launched in 2001, Odyssey is the longest-running mission orbiting any planet besides Earth. The orbiter is also one of two spacecrafts orbiting Mars under threat of being axed under President Donald Trump's budget proposal for NASA. Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, Odyssey completed its primary science mission from February 2002 through August 2004. Since then, the orbiter has set out to study Martian clouds, fog and frost while mapping the surface to pave the way for future crewed landings. The newest panorama, NASA said, represents the kind of science the orbiter began pursuing in 2023, when it captured the first of its now four high-altitude images of the Martian horizon. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
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.
Gizmodo
09-06-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Mars Orbiter Captures Rare View of Ancient Volcano Poking Above the Clouds
Floating in orbit above Mars, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter captured a panorama of the Red Planet's biggest volcanoes, Arsia Mons, peeking over a sea of clouds. The picturesque moment offers an exceptionally rare view of a Martian volcano, showing the landform at an angle in space that captures the planet's horizon. 'We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds. And it didn't disappoint,' Jonathon Hill, the operations lead for Odyssey's camera and a mission planner at Arizona State University's Mars Space Flight Facility, called the Thermal Emission Imaging System, or THEMIS, said in a statement. THEMIS can view Mars in both visible and infrared light. Launched in 2001, Odyssey has been circling around Mars for over two decades, studying the Martian surface. But in 2023, the orbiter began taking breathtaking panoramic views of the Martian horizon. Because THEMIS can't pivot to get these stunning views, the orbiter flips on its side, rotating a full 90 degrees. That way, it captured Mars' 'limb,' the edge of the planet's horizon. This is THEMIS' fourth limb observation since 2023. Odyssey captured the image on May 2, just before dawn. In it, Arsia Mons stands 12 miles (20 kilometers) high and measures 70 miles (450 km) in diameter. For comparison, Earth's tallest volcano, Mauna Loa, stands 6 miles (9 km) above the seafloor and measures 75 miles (121 km) in diameter. Arsia Mons is also one of Mars' cloudiest volcanoes and the southernmost of the three Tharsis volcanoes that form Tharsis Montes, or Tharsis Mountains. These mountains are often surrounded by water ice clouds, particularly early in the morning. The clouds form when air expands as it blows up the sides of the mountain and then rapidly cools. This view also allows scientists to study Martian weather and phenomena like dust clouds and how they change over the course of the seasons. Odyssey might be able to capture a few more of these panoramas before its eventual retirement, likely at the end of this year.
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
