Latest news with #MarsExpress
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Remarkable Nasa photo shows eerie Mars landscape scattered with ‘TREES' – and it's not the only mystery in the sand
But they're not the only bizarre-looking specimens located in Mars' faraway sands ANOTHER BITES THE DUST Remarkable Nasa photo shows eerie Mars landscape scattered with 'TREES' – and it's not the only mystery in the sand Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE famously desolate Mars landscape could be scattered with trees to the untrained eye, according to a recently shared Nasa image. However, the US space agency was quick to explain otherwise. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 The image was captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Credit: NASA 6 Dark streaks in the sand give the illusion of trees Credit: NASA "Are these trees growing on Mars? No," Nasa said, as it re-shared the image first snapped in 2008. "Groups of dark brown streaks have been photographed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on melting pinkish sand dunes covered with light frost." The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which had been in space just two years before taking the shot, was able to capture dark sand on the interior of Martian sand dunes - giving the illusion of trees. These tree-like dark streaks of sand are located near Mars' North Pole - which are usually covered in a layer of carbon dioxide ice in the winter. The dark sand had become more visible during the Martian spring, when the Sun melted the lighter carbon dioxide ice on the surface of the sand. "When occurring near the top of a dune, dark sand may cascade down the dune leaving dark surface streaks - streaks that might appear at first to be trees standing in front of the lighter regions but cast no shadows," explained Nasa. "Objects about 25cm across are resolved on this image spanning about one kilometer. "Close ups of some parts of this image show billowing plumes indicating that the sand slides were occurring even while the image was being taken." But they're not the only bizarre-looking specimens located in Mars' faraway sands. 6 Can you spot the face? Credit: NASA A buried face What looks like a grisly, sun-scorched human face has also been discovered half-buried on Mars by Nasa's Perseverance rover. The image, taken by the rover in September, appears to show a sandy face with a large brow bone, nostrils and a sloping mouth on the left side. 6 Which do you see first - the angel or the heart? Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin South Pole 'angel' On the opposite side of the planet to Mars' mysterious 'trees', lies an 'angel' in the Martian regolith. Snapped by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express, this image of the Red Planet's South Pole seems to show an angel and a heart together. ESA described it as an "angelic figure" in a December 2020 image release - although its caused by the same melting of ice that prompted tree-like illusions in the North Pole sand. 6 Humans have found no signs of life on Mars - yet Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Martian bone In 2014, Nasa's Curiosity rover sent a photo back to Earth with what looked like a femur bone from a human thigh in the sand. Of course, it was just a strangely shaped rock - and not quite proof of aliens. Scientists at the time said the unusual shape was most likely the product of erosion by wind or water. 6 There's no telling how far down this pit goes Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona Deep pit This deep and oddly circular pit on Mars could lead to an extensive network of underground tunnels that may be harbouring alien life, according to Nasa. Scientists captured the image of the hole from orbit at the Martian South Pole in 2017. While Nasa doesn't have any definitive answers on this odd round pit, the circular formation is likely a collapse pit or an impact crater.
The Irish Sun
06-07-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Remarkable Nasa photo shows eerie Mars landscape scattered with ‘TREES' – and it's not the only mystery in the sand
THE famously desolate Mars landscape could be scattered with trees to the untrained eye, according to a recently shared Nasa image. However, the US space agency was quick to explain otherwise. Advertisement 6 The image was captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Credit: NASA 6 Dark streaks in the sand give the illusion of trees Credit: NASA " Are these trees growing on Mars? No," Nasa " Groups of dark brown streaks have been photographed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on melting pinkish sand dunes covered with light frost. " The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which had been in space just two years before taking the shot, was able to capture dark sand on the interior of Martian sand dunes - giving the illusion of trees. These tree-like dark streaks of sand are located near Mars' North Pole - which are usually covered in a layer of carbon dioxide ice in the winter. Advertisement READ MORE ON SPACE The dark sand had become more visible during the Martian spring, when the Sun melted the lighter carbon dioxide ice on the surface of the sand. " When occurring near the top of a dune, dark sand may cascade down the dune leaving dark surface streaks - streaks that might appear at first to be tree s standing in front of the lighter regions but cast no shadows," explained Nasa. " Objects about 25cm across are resolved on this image spanning about one kilometer. " Close ups of some parts of this image show billowing plume s indicating that the sand slides were occurring even while the image was being taken. " Advertisement Most read in Science Exclusive Exclusive But they're not the only bizarre-looking specimens located in Mars' faraway sands. 6 Can you spot the face? Credit: NASA A b uried face What looks like a grisly, The image, taken by the rover in September, appears to show a sandy face with a large brow bone, nostrils and a sloping mouth on the left side. Advertisement 6 Which do you see first - the angel or the heart? Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin South Pole 'angel' On the opposite side of the planet to Mars' mysterious 'trees', lies an 'angel' in the Martian regolith. Snapped by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express, this image of the Red Planet's South Pole seems to show an angel and a heart together. ESA Advertisement 6 Humans have found no signs of life on Mars - yet Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Martian bone In 2014, Nasa's Curiosity rover sent a photo back to Earth with what looked like a femur bone from a human thigh in the sand. Of course, it was just a strangely shaped rock - and not quite proof of aliens. Scientists at the time said the unusual shape was most likely the product of erosion by wind or water. Advertisement 6 There's no telling how far down this pit goes Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona Deep pit This deep and oddly circular pit on Mars could lead to an extensive network of underground tunnels that may Scientists captured the image of the hole from orbit at the Martian South Pole in 2017. While Nasa doesn't have any definitive answers on this odd round pit, the circular formation is likely a collapse pit or an impact crater. Advertisement Mars facts Here's what you need to know about the red planet... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun It is named after the Roman god of war The landmass of Mars is very similar to Earth but due to the difference in gravity you could jump three times higher there than you can here Mars is mountainous and hosts the tallest mountain known in the Solar System called Olympus Mons, which is three times higher than Everest Mars is considered to be the second most habitable planet after Earth It takes the planet 687 Earth days to orbit the Sun The planet has a diameter of 4,212 miles, and has an average distance from Earth of 140 million miles Martian temperatures can vary wildly, reaching as high as 70F/20C or as low as -225F/-153C
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why does Mars look purple, yellow and orange in ESA's stunning new satellite image?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Despite being known as the Red Planet, Mars shows off its swirling yellows, oranges and browns in a new satellite photo from the European Space Agency (ESA). The Earth-toned surface also reveals an impact crater and four sneaky dust devils making their way across the region. The Rothko-like image was taken by a high-resolution camera on ESA's Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia, an area of Mars critical to research about the planet's past and its potential to house humans in the future. Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in the solar system, Arcadia Planitia is a region of intrigue. It's laden with solidified lava flows that are, at most, 3 billion years old. The area is also thought to host water ice close to the planet's surface, making it an area of interest when planning future missions to Mars, according to a statement from ESA. Arcadia Planitia is home to visiting "dust devils," short-lived columns of wind akin to small tornadoes. Dust devils form when the Martian surface warms the air just above it, leading the air to rise and pulling dust with it. The new image shows four dust devils as they snake their way across the plains of the region. Easy to overlook, you can spot them as whitish puffs of dust near the center of the image, straddling the boundary between the darker brown and lighter red parts of the plain. A large impact crater sits in the bottom right corner of the photo and measures 9 miles (15 kilometers) across, according to ESA. The formation of layered material around the crater is evidence that the ground encompassed notable amounts of water ice during impact, and lack of clear erosion of the crater dates it to relatively recently on the geological timeline. Related: Perseverance rover spots peculiar 'spider egg' rock on Mars — and scientists have no idea how it got there If you noticed that the image is blurry, you're discerning an effect of the wind on Mars. Gusts of air pick up and carry tiny particles of debris from the planet's surface, which creates a minor visual haze. RELATED STORIES —Mars rover captures first close-up photos of giant 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet —Long, dark 'streaks' spotted on Mars aren't what scientists thought —NASA Mars satellite uncovers markings 'like paint dripping down a wall' on Martian surface The wind that causes the haze is also responsible for the reddish area at the top of the photo. The red region is covered in ridges called "yardangs," which are formed when wind erodes vulnerable rock and leaves the most resistant rock still standing. Below the red section is purplish-brown terrain, which has a high concentration of silicates and a low concentration of iron, the statement notes. The difference in colors also stems from properties of the sand, like density and size, which affect how the grains accumulate and travel across Mars.
South Wales Argus
14-06-2025
- Science
- South Wales Argus
What we can see in the sky this coming week
Noctilucent clouds, (NLCs), make for an interesting spectacle after sunset, observable with the naked eye and quite eerie in appearance. Around two hours after the Sun has set and looking above the northwest horizon, watch for wispy threads of cloud with a distinct blue and silver tinge to them. Taken from the Latin for 'night-shining', NLCs are formed by sunlight reflecting off high-altitude ice crystals that are positioned right on the edge of space. The time period after sunset is crucial if we are to catch NLCs, as around 90 minutes to two hours after the Sun has dipped below the horizon is when the necessary angle occurs for sunlight to catch the crystals and illuminate that part of the sky with this enchanting effect. The beautiful and captivating sight sees the highest clouds in our atmosphere, about 50 miles above the Earth's surface, seem to glow and shimmer with this mesmerizing blue or silvery guise. In the summertime the mesosphere, (the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere where meteorites burn up), becomes cold enough to allow ice to form on suspended dust particles that are floating around in the clouds. These particles may originate from meteorites falling from space, but equally so from other sources, possible volcanic, with the recent Mount Etna eruption billowing tons of debris into the atmosphere. In fact, the first NLCs observations were recorded in 1885, two years after the eruption of Krakatoa, which may or may not have something to do with their appearance. Eruptions aside, rockets that have blasted off from Earth leave particle emissions from their exhaust systems, all contributing to the array of debris circulating in our atmosphere. NLC's have been given a different name when seen from space looking back on Earth; polar mesospheric clouds, or (PMCs). However, the Earth is not the only place NLC's have been witnessed. Launched in June 2003, Mars Express was not only the first European mission to Mars, but the first planetary mission operated entirely by Europe. There were reports of NLC's made three years into the Mars Express mission in 2006, with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover confirming the presence of NLC's in 2019. Readers may well recall all the media hype over Asteroid 2024 YR4, which earlier this year was once considered the highest impact risk to Earth ever recorded. Earlier this week, NASA announced that previously collected data on the asteroid that has been reanalysed now reveals that the 174 to 220 feet-long chunk of rock is more likely to hit the Moon in 2032. During the week ahead, watch for Mars in the evening sky as it moves its way slowly night by night, left to right, above the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, situated above the western horizon. The International Space Station continues its early summer break and cannot be seen across our region at present. Send your astrophotography pictures to: thenightsky@
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
European Mars orbiter spies crumbling crater 'soaked in layers of Martian history' (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A European Mars probe captured a stunning view of a Martian crater that's rich in many of the features that help scientists reconstruct the planet's dynamic history over billions of years. The image, taken in October 2024 using the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express orbiter, shows a crumbling crater called Deuteronilus Cavus. It is "soaked in layers of Martian history," having been exposed to volcanic lava flows, erosion from liquid water, repeated freeze-thaw cycles that expanded its edges, and layers of wind-blown volcanic dust settling over time, according to a statement from the space agency. Located in a transitional zone between the planet's rugged southern highlands and smoother northern lowlands, Deuteronilus Cavus is believed to originally have formed following an impact roughly 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago, when Mars and other planets were being bombarded by huge numbers of asteroids and comets. Over time, the nearly circular 75-mile-wide (120 kilometers) depression has been eroded by water and ice, enlarging it to nearly twice its initial size. ESA shared a fun "recipe" outlining the series of events that shaped the crater, offering valuable insights into the planet's climatic and geological evolution. For example, the presence of clay minerals indicates past interactions between volcanic materials and water, hinting at the possibility of ancient habitable environments, according to the statement. This is further supported by channels cut through the crater's rim, likely formed by surface water flow or the collapse of weakened ground above draining subsurface water. Meanwhile, grooves in the crater rim suggest that ice once formed when Mars' axis tilted more sharply away from the sun than it does now. Related Stories: — Mars: Everything you need to know about the Red Planet — Facts about ESA's Mars Express orbiter — What happened to all the water on Mars? Here's why the debate continues "The linear grooves indicate where boulders frozen into the base of a glacier were dragged along, gouging out the troughs visible today," ESA officials said in the statement. "Around the base of the crater's inner walls, we can see the smooth, tongue-shaped ends of rock-covered glaciers. These 'debris aprons' formed when ice mixed together with rocky debris along the crater walls during a period of glaciation, and slowly crept downslope." The crater's interior also exhibits a mix of rock knobs, mesas, channels and plains, believed to be remnants of a collapsed central peak. Dark volcanic ash covers much of the crater floor, while surrounding wrinkle ridges mark ancient lava flows. "This feature-rich crater has all the ingredients for exploring Mars' varied geological processes, giving us a tantalizing taste of its complex history," ESA officials said in the statement.
