Giant volcano in the solar system, captured by Mars Odyssey in a breathtaking view.
The latest panorama of Olympus Mons, the towering volcano on Mars, has revealed intriguing details about the Red Planet's atmosphere and surface. NASA's Odyssey spacecraft, which captured the breathtaking image, has about 4 kilograms of propellant left, enough to extend the mission until the end of 2025.
The mission team recently released a detailed panorama of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system. Rising to 27 kilometers above the Martian surface and stretching over 600 kilometers near the Martian equator, the volcano dominates the surrounding landscape. The panorama was captured in March by ordering the Odyssey spacecraft to slowly rotate.
The final image of Olympus Mons shows a bluish-white band and a thin layer of purple. These color bands are not true-color photographic representations but scientific enhancements used to highlight different surface materials, compositions, or elevation features. The blue-white band can indicate areas with specific minerals or surface materials, or regions with frost or ice deposits, as their spectral signatures differ from surrounding terrain. The purple layer likely corresponds to another type of surface material or geological layer revealed through the absorption and reflection of certain wavelengths.
Such color layering is significant because it enables researchers to map the distribution of rock types, dust, frost, and volcanic deposits, thereby better understanding Olympus Mons's formation and volcanic history. It is a common practice in planetary imaging to enhance scientific interpretation through false-color composites derived from orbital spectroscopy and imaging instruments, like those onboard Odyssey.
The discovery of an ephemeral morning frost on the summit of Olympus Mons offers new insights into the circulation of ice from the poles across Mars. Studying these phenomena could help us understand Martian water cycles and their impact on the climate and geology of the planet.
The blue-green layer at the top of the image marks where water ice clouds rise about 30 miles into the Martian sky. The Odyssey spacecraft has traveled more than 2.2 billion kilometers around Mars during its 100,000 orbits, providing valuable information about the Martian atmosphere and its interactions with the planet's surface.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU is the source of the panorama. This panoramic view of Olympus Mons provides a new perspective on the Martian giant and offers fascinating details about the Red Planet's atmosphere and surface.
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