Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
This is a Dust Avalanche on Mars
For decades, scientists have observed dark landslides called slope streaks on Mars. First seen by the Viking orbiters in the…
Eight Missions are Getting Extensions, Most Exciting: OSIRIS-REx is Going to Asteroid Apophis
NASA has granted mission extensions to eight different planetary missions, citing the continued excellent operations of the spacecraft, but more…
Here’s Something Rare: a Martian Crater That isn’t a Circle. What Happened?
Most impact craters are usually circular and fairly symmetric, but not all. This odd-shaped crater on Mars is obviously an…
Perseverance Finally Spots its Own Parachute on the Surface of Mars
More than 13 months after the Perseverance rover landed on Mars (on February 18, 2021), the rover’s cameras have finally…
Mars Orbiter Captures Images of China’s Rover From Space
China’s Tianwen-1 lander and Zhurong rover touched down on the Martian plain Utopia Planitia on May 14, 2021 after spending…
It’s Springtime on Mars, and the Dunes are Defrosting
Nothing says springtime on Mars like defrosting dunes. (more…)
Strange Terraces on Mars are a Clear Signal of Sedimentary Rock
If we’ve learned anything about Mars the past 2-3 decades from the various rovers, landers and orbiters we’ve sent to…
Ice Peeks out of a Cliffside on Mars
The HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured another beauty. This time the image…
‘Glowing’ Sand Dune Erosion on the Side of a Martian Crater
While Mars is known as the Red Planet, a variety of colors can be found on the planet’s surface. Just…
Strange Intersecting Sand Dunes on Mars
In our exploration of Mars, we’ve seen some strange but naturally occurring shapes. Polygons – a shape with at least…