Science

See Mars like never before in this stunning new picture from the 20-year-old probe

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June 10, 2023June 10, 2023
See Mars like never before in this stunning new picture from the 20-year-old probe
In this simulated view of Mars with improved color and contrast, the darker gray areas of Mars represent gray-black basaltic sands of volcanic origin; lighter spots indicate clay and sulfate minerals; and the great mark on the face of the planet is the Valles Marineris. (Image: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/G. Michael)

A stunning new image shows Mars in a whole new light, revealing intricate details of the Martian surface.

The image was released to mark the 20th anniversary of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft. Since the Mars Express entered orbit around Mars on Christmas Day 2003, the orbiter took images of the Martian surface from an altitude of about 186 miles (300 kilometers), the closest any spacecraft has come to the Red Planet. This results in images that are about 31 miles (50 kilometers) wide.