A Closer Encounter with Mars

ABOUT THIS IMAGE:

This image is centered on the dark feature known as Syrtis Major, first seen telescopically by the astronomer Christiaan Huygens in the 17th century. Many small, dark, circular impact craters can be seen in this region, attesting to the Hubble telescope's ability to reveal fine detail on the planet's surface. To the south of Syrtis is a large circular feature called Hellas. Viking and more recently Mars Global Surveyor have revealed that Hellas is a large and deep impact crater. These Hubble telescope pictures show it to be filled with surface frost and water ice clouds. Along the right limb, late afternoon clouds have formed around the volcano Elysium.

Object Name: Mars

Image Type: Astronomical

NEWS RELEASE IMAGES

The above image is part of a montage:

Montage Image: Mars at 54 Million Miles (87 Million Km) From Earth Image Type: Astronomical PRC1999-27 Mars Image Centered Near Location of Pathfinder Landing Site Image Type: Astronomical PRC1999-27a Mars' Tharsis Region, Home of the Solar System's Largest Volcanoes Image Type: Astronomical PRC1999-27b Mars' Volcanic Elysium Region Image Type: Astronomical PRC1999-27c

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