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Guess who took this picture of Jupiter? Hubble? Keck? A well equipped amateur here on Earth? Nope, it was taken by the HiRISE camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The picture was taken from orbit around Mars.
The HiRISE camera uses the most powerful telescope every launched out of the Earth’s orbit. Since Mars is much closer to Jupiter than Earth, and since the instrument has no atmosphere to peer through, it much better than a ground-based observatory.
This isn’t a completely natural colour image. Since HiRISE is able to detect longer wavelengths of light – into the infrared – it’s different than what you’d see with your own eye.
Original Source: HiRISE News Release
About Fraser Cain
Fraser Cain is the publisher of Universe Today. He's also the co-host of Astronomy Cast with Dr. Pamela Gay.
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