This week, NASA offers us two visual journeys to the red planet. A shimmering frosty Martian crater, and a sunrise.
Since the beginning of its Martian explorations, NASA has not failed to share with us the exotic beauties it captures during its approaches. These two photos are taken in two different places. One by Insight Mars Lander, from the ground, and the other from space by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Each of these views sparkles. One thanks to the reflection of our star on the ice crystals, the other, visible above, more directly. It’s a sunrise.
A sunrise on Mars
This incredible sight was taken by InSight Mars, April 10. From a distance of 132 million kilometers, we see the sun appear, marking the beginning of a Martian day.
« I will never get tired of the sunrise on Mars “wrote NASA officials on the Twitter post relayed below.
And as if the image wasn’t enough, the NASA team combined several of the sunrise photos for us to make a little time lapse. Look.
InSight (abréviation d’Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport ») est a stationary lander designed to study the seismic activity of Mars and its internal composition. It has been located in the Elysium Planitia region of Mars since November 2018. Its position is permanent, unlike NASA’s Perseverance, Opportunity, Spirit and Curiosity rovers, which are rolling.
See also > Mars: Curiosity has just taken the most beautiful photo of the year
InSight is currently in an extended phase following completing its primary mission of a full Martian year (approximately 687 Earth days) to study the Red Planet.
Martian crater with shimmering frost
More than 160 km above the surface, a NASA satellite has spotted dry ice and gullies inside a Martian crater. Every winter, a layer of frost forms on the surface of the red planet. At its peak in mid-winter, this freeze extends from the poles to the mid-latitudes, until it becomes too hot for it to persist.
The snow we see is carbon dioxide. Extreme low temperatures allow these formations on the planet. Water has still not been observed directly. She would still be there, under the surface. An abundant source of water would be present in particular in the Grand Canyon martien.
Read also > Mars: wind, water, erosion, data from the Zhurong rover says a lot regarding the red planet
