Another HiRISE Stunner: The Full Descent Image

by Nancy Atkinson on May 27, 2008


I hope you’re not tired of seeing HiRISE images of Phoenix, but this one shows the grandeur of Mars compared to the tininess of our spacecraft. Remember the close-up image of Phoenix descending to Mars’ surface with its parachute? Well, the HiRISE folks were holding back on us. Above is the jaw-dropping full image, with the inset being the close-up of Phoenix! What an amazing vista, and our little Phoenix is just a tiny pixel or two in the entire image. That the imaging team found Phoenix in this photo is incredible. And no, Phoenix is not heading into the crater, as it appears. The lander is actually about 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) in front of the crater. This is just so amazing.

Tell me when you’ve had enough of these images, but I’m saying, “Keep ‘em coming!”

I love HiRISE even more.

BTW, the crater is informally called “Heimdall,” and is about 10 km (6 miles) wide.

Original Source: JPL Phoenix News


← Older Comments
  • LK

    Absolutely awesome!

  • PHWilson

    Sincerely – every picture that coveys perspective to us is worth viewing. Pics like this one make you gasp when you realize how tiny our greatest achievements are compared to the goals dreamt tomorrow.

  • Rafael

    This photo magnificently illustrates what space enthusiasts have been imagining in their mind’s eye for years. Thanks HiRise.

  • http://www.universetoday.com Fraser Cain

    That’s the best space photo of the year. I can’t even wrap my head around what I’m seeing.

  • robbb

    knock out shot. Couldn’t have been more beautiful really. I agree, this simply implies what more amazing things we will see of the solar system in the future too. It’s an interesting time to be alive, on the leading edge of a coming technological singularity.

  • http://www.lunarpioneer.com Joel Raupe

    Facinating, Captain…

  • hunter

    Keep ‘em coming, please.

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