NASA discovered huge Mars volcano: Arsia Mons over clouds visible!

NASA discovered huge Mars volcano: Arsia Mons over clouds visible!

NASA has published an impressive picture of the Arsia Mons volcano on the Mars, which was taken by the "Mars Odyssey" spacecraft. This picture shows the gigantic volcano, which is one of the largest of its kind in the solar system, and was made shortly before sunrise when the summit just dives out of a dense cloud cover. Arsia Mons rises on about 19 kilometers (12 miles) over the surface of the Mars, which makes it more than twice as high as Mount Everest, which is about 8.8 kilometers high. The picture offers a unique view of the Tharsis Group, which also includes the Pavonis Mons and Ascraeus Mons volcanoes. This group is one of the most striking features of the Mars surface and extends over thousands of kilometers.

The "Mars Odyssey" spacecraft has been circulating the red planet for over 20 years and is the longest active mission around another planet. Since 2023, the probe has been taking pictures in a new flight mode, which enables the cameras to turn 90 degrees and thus get a side look at the horizon. This technology improves the observations of dust and cloud layers in the Mars's atmosphere. NASA researchers, among them Michael Smith, emphasize that these pictures document seasonal changes in the atmosphere and help to develop a better understanding of the planet.

Details about Arsia Mons

Arsia Mons, the largest volcano of the Tharsis Montes, has a volume that is about 30 times larger than that of the largest volcano on earth, Mauna Loa. The volcano has a long history of geological activity that extends over billions of years and reached its peak about 150 million years ago. Current pictures of the volcano show that clouds from Wasserice are formed around its lace, which arise when rising air cools down and ice crystals form. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced during the aphelion phase when Mars is the most away from the sun, which leads to a denser cloud cover.

The discovery that the clouds around Arsia Mons consist of mostly Wasserice is an important point in research. Normal clouds on Mars are often made of carbon dioxide, but the new recordings show a deviation from this pattern. Aerospace engineer Jonathon Hill from Arizona State University emphasizes the importance of these observations and is happy about the results of the spacecraft.

the Mars Odyssey Mission

The "Mars Odyssey" was sent to space in 2001 and is not only the longest orbiter mission, but also a crucial resource for examining the Mars atmosphere. The theme camera of the probe, which can detect both visible and infrared radiation, provides valuable data for atmospheric observations. This information is crucial for future manned missions for Mars, as they help, among other things, to identify underground ice cream.

Overall, the current perspective on Arsia Mons offers an exciting opportunity to further explore and understand the Mars. The repeated viewing of this and other subsequent meteorological phenomena will not only deepen the knowledge about the planet, but also contribute to preparation for future explorations.

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