NASA’s longest-running Mars orbiter has delivered a stunning 'postcard' from the Red Planet, revealing a colossal volcano poking through dawn clouds and offering a glimpse of what future explorers might see.
Get the facts in this quick 1-minute read:
- Mars Odyssey snapped the first image of Arsia Mons, a 20km-tall volcano, ever captured from the planet’s horizon
- The view shows the volcano rising above a sea of early morning water ice clouds
- Arsia Mons dwarfs any Earth volcano, standing nearly twice as tall as Hawaii’s Mauna Loa
- These high-altitude images help scientists track seasonal changes and weather patterns on Mars
- The data could be vital for planning future missions and even finding water for astronauts
"We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds. And it didn’t disappoint."
Jonathon Hill, Arizona State University, Odyssey THEMIS operations lead
What does this means for Mars exploration?
Read the full story: NASA probe captures breathtaking view of giant volcano peeking through Red Planet's clouds
