Science

NASA pictures of Mars: These are the most breathtaking photos of the Red Planet from space


The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) keeps a watchful eye over the Red Planet from an orbit 125 to 250 miles (200 to 400km) ground. Launched to Mars on August 12, 2005, the spacecraft spent seven months in transit before it arrived on March 10, 2006. ’s primary goal for the MRO mission was to search the surface of Mars for evidence of liquid water both past and present. Powered by solar panels and weighing in at an incredible 2,180kg at launch, MRO’s main camera can zoom in at objects as small as a dinner table.

NASA said; “In its survey of the red planet, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is increasing tenfold the number of spots surveyed close-up.

“One of the orbiter’s cameras is the largest ever flown on a planetary mission.

“Though previous cameras on other Mars orbiters could identify objects no smaller than a school bus, this camera can spot something as small as a dinner table.

“That capability has allowed the orbiter to identify obstacles such as large rocks that could jeopardise the safety of landers and rovers, including the Phoenix mission and Mars Science Laboratory mission.”

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NASA news: pictures of Mars snapped from space

NASA news: NASA snapped this photo of Victoria Crater on Mars (Image: NASA/JPL/UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA)

The MRO’s main camera is the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment or HiRISE.

HiRISE is the single most powerful camera ever sent to another planet for the purpose of planetary exploration.

The incredible piece of technology can capture an incredible 11.8 inches (30cm) per pixel.

The mission is operated as a joint effort between NASA and The University of Arizona.

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The university said: “Our camera’s high-resolution capability remains unprecedented for any existing orbiter in the study of the Red Planet, as well as being an indispensable instrument for helping to select landing sites for robotic and future human exploration.

One of the orbiter’s cameras is the largest ever flown on a planetary mission

NASA

“In the past decade, we’ve also imaged avalanches in progress, and discovered dark flows that may or may not be briny seeps.

“Hundreds of science papers have been published with our data.”

On January 19, 2019, the MRO snapped a beautiful view of dust avalanches leaving behind dark streaks.

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NASA news: Photos of dust streaks on Mars

NASA news: The HiRISE is the biggest ever camera ever sent to another planet (Image: NASA/JPL/UoA)

The University of Arizona said: “HiRISE has been imaging new dark features discovered by MRO’s Context Camera, which are mostly new impact sites.

“In this scene we see what appears to be a new impact cluster and, extending downhill from the craters, new dark slope streaks.

“These slope streaks are formed by dry dust avalanches.

“We’ve also seen large new dust avalanches associated with new impacts at previous locations.”

And on January 26, 2019, the NASA space probe photographed a large Martian canyon known as Ius Chasma.

The HiRISE team said: “Sometimes Mars’ surface is just beautiful as seen through the eyes of HiRISE.

“This is one example on the floor of Ius Chasma, part of Valles Marineris.

“The region has had a complex history of sediment deposition, deformation, erosion, and alteration.”

NASA news: NASA pictures of Mars

NASA news: This is the Ius Chasma canyon on Mars (Image: NASA/JPL/UoA)

A much earlier photo, dated October 3, 2006, shows a giant impact crater at the Meridiani Planum.

The stunning feature is the Victoria Crater near the Red Planet’s Equator.

The crater measures around half-a-miles in diameter (800m) and has a very distinct “scalloped” share around its rim.

The floor of the crater is occupied by crisscrossing sand patterns caused by sand dunes.





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