Martian Skies pictures from Mars!

[Vedubin01]

Yesterday's announcement by NASA of the discovery of water ice on Mars by its Phoenix Lander probe made big news everywhere. The discovery involved the observation of water ice sublimating into the air - that is, the water went from solid to vapor state without reaching the liquid stage. The Martian atmosphere has perfect conditions for sublimation - extremely thin, dry and cold. How cold? Well, you can check the Live Martian Weather Report, with data from a station on board the Phoenix Lander. Today will see a high temperature of a toasty -26 degrees F. What more do we know about Mars' atmosphere? It's hundreds of times thinner than Earth's atmosphere and is made of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and contains traces of oxygen, water, and methane. We also know, from observations that it can support dust storms, dust devils, clouds and gusty winds. With an amazing number of six current live probes exploring Mars (two rovers, a lander, and three orbiters), there are many thousands of images available. Only a few, however show atmospheric phenomena. Presented here are some of the best images of Martian atmosphere (and beyond) in action. (17 photos total)



More pictures here

[red]

Looks like a picture taken in Arizona.

wierd.

[Tavern Gnome]

That is so damn cool!

[PiercedE30]

Movie set. It never happened.

[VacMan]

Thanks for posting this! You linked probably the most boring one. Anyone interested, follow the link and check the others out.

[joshh]

Wait wait wait, it's made of 95% C02 but is a cold planet. Hippies take note.

Cool pictures though.

[Vedubin01]

Wait wait wait, it's made of 95% C02 but is a cold planet. Hippies take note.

Cool pictures though.

LOL I thought the same thing when I saw that, just a bit cold though. Remember the lander is sitting on the northern pole so it would be colder there. Much like ours during the winter.

[Hon2BMW]

Wait wait wait, it's made of 95% C02 but is a cold planet. Hippies take note.

Cool pictures though.

I think that has more to do with the fact that it's between 40 and 60 million miles farther away from the sun than we are, but thats just a hypothesis.

[mrsleeve]

I think that has more to do with the fact that it's between 40 and 60 million miles farther away from the sun than we are, but thats just a hypothesis.

No shit!!!!!

[Vedubin01]

I think he was talking about the Co2 being so high. Growing the Green loves the high Co2 levels, not the cold.

[Hon2BMW]

I think he was talking about the Co2 being so high. Growing the Green loves the high Co2 levels, not the cold.

No I get it, I was just complimenting one ludacris retort with another. :)

[Maluco]

Man, those are some awesome pictures! It's amazing to be able to view them...

You know some nerdy mission guys tripped when they were able to catch this shot..



The air is certainly thick enough to fill a parachute. On May 25th, 2008, the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this dramatic oblique image of the arrival of its sister probe from NASA, the Phoenix Lander, descending on its parachute. Phoenix and its parachute can be barely seen in the larger image with 10 km wide crater informally called "Heimdall" in the background. Although it appears that Phoenix is descending into the crater, it is actually about 20 kilometers in front of the crater. Given the position and pointing angle of MRO, Phoenix is at about 13 km above the surface, just a few seconds after the parachute opened. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

[h0lmes]

I can't wait till the day we send people to Mars.

[Maluco]

They have three-titi'd women there!



I'd go for "two weeks"...



LOL



most of you puberties won't pick up on that...

[Maluco]

I remember when they sent the first rover... I had a subscription to National Geographic. There was a huge section of foldouts of picture it took and they were 3D. (3D glasses were in included)

Really frikn cool. I wish I still had it. 3 dimensional rocks and shit yo! Amazing!!!!