Mars panoramas in high resolution. High-resolution photo of the surface of Mars (43 photos)

> Panorama of Mars from Curiosity and Opportunity rover

Learn online panorama of Mars from the Curiosity and Opportunity rover: 360-degree surface of Mars, movable interactive map in high resolution.

NASA releases first official images showing surface Mars in crystal-clear detail as captured by his Curiosity rover. Panorama of Mars consists of one billion pixels, combined from about 900 exposures taken by the cameras on board Curiosity.

Panorama from the Opportunity rover

The 360° panorama of Mars was filmed from where Curiosity collected its first dusty sand samples, a windswept area called "Rocknest", and captures Mount Sharp on the horizon.

Bob Deen, who works at the Multipurpose Imaging Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California, said it gives you a feel for the place and shows the camera's real capabilities. "You can see the environment in general and also zoom in to see the smallest details," he added.

Dean assembled the image using 850 frames taken with the telephoto lens of the "Mast Camera" tool installed on Curiosity. He then added 21 frames from the wider Mastcam camera, and 25 black-and-white frames (mostly images of the rover itself) from the navigation camera. The images were taken over several different Martian days between October 5 and November 16, 2012.

Earlier this year, photographer Andrei Bodrov used Curiosity images to assemble his own mosaic images of the planet, including at least one gigapixel panorama. His mosaic shows light effects as the time of day changes. It also shows changes in the clarity of the atmosphere, in line with changes in dust levels during the month the images were taken.

The NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission uses Curiosity and 10 rover exploration instruments to study the history of the environment around Gale Crater, where, according to the mission's preliminary findings, earlier conditions could be favorable for the life of microorganisms.

Malin Space Science Systems of San Diego built and operates the Mastcam cameras on Curiosity. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, built the rover and its navigation camera, and manages the project through NASA's Office of Science Programs in Washington.

Curiosity took a self-portrait at the Big Sky drilling site

Bodrov spent two weeks creating an interactive image using 407 frames from narrow and medium-angle cameras located on top of the rover. He also applied some digital retouching in his work. He told Popular Science that the camera is only two megapixels, which is not much by today's standards. “Of course, the need to fly these electronic components from Earth to Mars, and their exposure to radiation and other hazards, means they couldn't use conventional cameras,” he said. Bodrov added the sky and previous images of Curiosity to the 90000×45000 pixel panorama using Photoshop.

In March, NASA management calmed down after a computer system failure that halted all operations for a whole week was resolved. This meant that they could return to researching the rock dust found on the planet. From April 4, radio communication between Earth and Mars will be blocked by the Sun, which means that work will be stopped again until May 1.

To date, the $2 billion six-wheeled rover that landed on the planet in August to begin its two-year mission will continue to analyze rock samples containing all the chemical components necessary for life.

Scientists have identified sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon in the dust that Curiosity mined from sediment near an ancient riverbed that ran through the so-called Yellowknife Bay within Gale Crater. They believe that, billions of years ago, water filled the crater and, pouring out of it, formed streams, which must be up to 3 feet deep.

This color mosaic image, taken by the Curiosity rover, shows layers of material along the edges of the valleys at the "Pahrump Hills" site.

At the opening of the project, scientist John Grotzinger said: "We have found a habitable environment, which is so soft and life-supporting that if you were there, and this water surrounded you, you could probably drink it."

Ultimately, the scientists plan to take the rover to a three-mile-high hill that may be covered by layers of sediment raised from the floor of Gale Crater.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has unveiled a magnificent 360° panorama of Mars captured by the cameras of the Curiosity robot.

The rover has reportedly climbed the Naukluft Plateau in the region of Aeolis Mons, informally known as Mount Sharp. The journey was fraught with risks, as the rover had to navigate between sharp rocks and boulders that pose a threat to the aluminum wheels.

By the way, traces of damage on the wheels of Curiosity became noticeable back in 2013. Therefore, NASA specialists have to carefully plan any route in order to maximize the life of the active operation of the robot.

The presented high-resolution panorama allows you to examine in great detail the bewitching Martian expanses. The image captures a landscape that has been formed over millions of years. Panorama in original size 29163 × 6702 pixels can be viewed here.

We add that the Curiosity rover was sent to the Red Planet in November 2011 and arrived at its destination in August 2012. In the fall of 2014, the device reached one of the main goals of its mission - the aforementioned Mount Aeolis. During its stay on the Red Planet, the rover collected and transmitted to Earth a large number of important scientific data.

The High Resolution Camera (HiRISE) has obtained the first mapping images of the surface of Mars from a height of 280 km, with a resolution of 25 cm/pixel!
Layered sediments in the Hebe Canyon.

Potholes on the wall of Gus crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Geysers of Manhattan. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

The surface of Mars is covered with dry ice. Have you ever played with dry ice (with leather gloves, of course!)? Then you probably noticed that dry ice from a solid state immediately passes into a gaseous state, in contrast to ordinary ice which, when heated, turns into water. On Mars, ice domes are made up of dry ice (carbon dioxide). When sunlight hits the ice in the spring, it turns into a gaseous state, which causes surface erosion. Erosion gives rise to bizarre arachnid forms. This image shows channels that have been eroded and filled light ice, which contrasts with the muted red of the surrounding surface. In summer, this ice will dissolve into the atmosphere, leaving only channels that look like ghostly spiders carved into the surface. This type of erosion is typical only for Mars and is not possible under natural conditions on Earth, since the climate of our planet is too warm. Lyricist: Candy Hansen (March 21, 2011) (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Layered mineral deposits at the southern tip of a mid-latitude crater. Light layered deposits are visible in the center of the image; they appear along the edges of the mesas, located on a hill. Similar deposits can be found in many places on Mars, including craters and canyons near the equator. It could be formed as a result of sedimentary processes under the influence of wind and/or water. Dunes or folded formations are visible around the table mountain. The wrinkled structure is the result of differential erosion: when some materials are more easily eroded than others. It is possible that this area was once covered by soft sedimentary deposits, which have now disappeared as a result of erosion. Lyricist: Kelly Kolb (April 15, 2009) (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Underlying rocks protruding from the walls and central hill of the crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Solid structures of the salt mountain in the Ganges canyon. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Someone cut out a piece of the planet! (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Sand mounds formed as a result of spring sandstorms at the North Pole. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

A crater with a central slide, 12 kilometers in diameter. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Cerberus Fossae fault system on the surface of Mars. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

The purple dunes of Proctor Crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Exposures of light rocks on the walls of a table mountain located in the Land of the Sirens. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Spring changes in the Ithaca area. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Dunes of Russell Crater. Photographs taken at Russell Crater are reviewed many times to track changes in the landscape. This image shows isolated dark formations that were likely caused by repeated dust storms that carried light dust off the surface of the dunes. Narrow channels continue to form on the steep surfaces of the sand dunes. The indentations at the end of the channels may be where blocks of dry ice accumulated before passing into a gaseous state. Lyricist: Ken Herkenhoff (March 9, 2011) (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Chutes on the walls of the crater under the exposed rock. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Areas where a lot of olivine may be found. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Ravines between dunes at the bottom of the Kaiser crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Valley Mort. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Sediments at the bottom of the canyon Labyrinth of the night. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Holden crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Crater of St. Mary (Santa Maria Crater). The HiRISE spacecraft took a color image of the crater of St. Mary, which shows the Opportunity robocar, which is stuck near the southeastern rim of the crater. Robocar has been collecting data on this relatively new 300-foot-diameter crater to determine what factors may have contributed to its formation. Pay attention to the surrounding blocks and beam formations. Spectral analysis of CRISM reveals the presence of hydrosulfates in this area. The wreckage of the robocar is located 6 kilometers from the rim of the Endeavor Crater, the main materials of which are hydrosulfates and phyllosilicates. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

The central hill of a large, well-preserved crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Dunes of Russell Crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Layered deposits in the Hebe Canyon. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Eumenides Dorsum yardang area. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Sand movements in the Gusev crater, located near the Columbia Hills. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

The northern ridge of Hellas Planitia, which is possibly rich in olivine. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Seasonal changes in the lot South Pole covered with cracks and ruts. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Remains of the south polar caps in spring. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Frozen depressions and ruts on the pole. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Deposits (possibly of volcanic origin) in the Labyrinth of the Night. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Layered outcrops on the wall of a crater located at the North Pole. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Solitary arachnid formation. This formation is the channels carved into the surface, which were formed under the influence of the evaporation of carbon dioxide. The channels are organized radially, widening and deepening as they approach the center. On Earth, such processes do not occur. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Relief of the Athabasca Valley.

Crater cones of the Utopia Plain (Utopia Planitia). The Utopia Planitia is a giant lowland located in the eastern part of the northern hemisphere of Mars, and adjacent to the Great Northern Plain. The craters in this area are of volcanic origin, as evidenced by their shape. Craters are practically not subject to erosion. Cone-shaped mounds or craters like the ones shown in this image are quite common in the northern latitudes of Mars. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Polar sand dunes. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

The interior of Tooting Crater. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Trees on Mars!!! In this photograph, we see something strikingly similar to trees growing among the dunes of Mars. But these "trees" are an optical illusion. These are actually dark deposits on the lee side of the dunes. They appeared due to the evaporation of carbon dioxide, "dry ice". The evaporation process begins at the bottom of the ice formation, as a result of this process, gas vapors escape through the pores to the surface and along the way carry out dark deposits that remain on the surface. This image was taken by the HiRISE spacecraft aboard the NASA Orbiter reconnaissance satellite in April 2008. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

Victoria Crater. The photo shows deposits on the crater wall. The bottom of the crater is covered with sand dunes. On the left, the wreckage of NASA's Opportunity robocar is visible. The image was taken by the HiRISE spacecraft aboard the NASA Orbiter reconnaissance satellite in July 2009. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona)

Linear dunes. These streaks are linear sand dunes at the bottom of a crater in the Noachis Terra region. The dark areas are the dunes themselves, and the light areas are the gaps between the dunes. The photo was taken on December 28, 2009 by the HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) astronomical camera aboard the NASA Orbiter reconnaissance satellite. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)

An impact crater about three kilometers across

The surface of Mars is a dry and barren wasteland covered with old volcanoes and craters.

Dunes through the eyes of Mars Odyssey

Photographs show that she may be hidden by a single sandstorm that keeps her out of sight for several days. Despite the formidable conditions, Mars is better studied by scientists than any other world in the solar system, except our own, of course.

Since the planet has almost the same slope as the Earth, and it has an atmosphere, it means that there are seasons. The temperature on the surface is about -40 degrees Celsius, but at the equator it can reach +20. There are traces of water on the surface of the planet, and features of the relief formed by water.

Landscape

Let's take a closer look at the surface of Mars, information provided by numerous orbiters, as well as rovers, allows us to fully understand what the red planet is like. Ultra-clear images show dry, rocky terrain covered in fine red dust.

Red dust is actually iron oxide. Everything, from the ground to small stones and rocks, is covered with this dust.

Since there is neither water nor confirmed tectonic activity on Mars, its geological features remain virtually unchanged. Compared to the surface of the Earth, which is undergoing constant changes associated with water erosion and tectonic activity.

Mars surface video

The landscape of Mars is made up of a variety of geological structures. It is home to famous throughout solar system. That's not all. The most famous canyon in the solar system is the Mariner Valley, also located on the surface of the Red Planet.

Look at the pictures from the rovers, which show a lot of details that are not visible from orbit.

If you have a desire to look at Mars online, then

Surface photo

The images below are images from Curiosity, a rover that is currently actively exploring the red planet.

To view in full screen mode, click on the button on the top right.


























Panorama transmitted by the Curiosity rover

This panorama is a section of Gale Crater, where Curiosity conducts its research. The high hill in the center is Mount Sharp, to the right of it you can see the annular rim of the crater in the haze.

To view in full size, save the image to your computer!

These photographs of the surface of Mars are from 2014 and are, in fact, the most recent.

Among all the features of the landscape of Mars, perhaps the most widely publicized are the mesas of Cydonia. Early photographs of the Sedonia region showed the hill as a "human face". However, later pictures, with more high resolution, presented us with an ordinary hill.

Planet dimensions

Mars is pretty small world. Its radius is half that of the Earth, it has a mass that is less than one-tenth of ours.

Dunes, MRO image

More about Mars: The surface of the planet consists mainly of basalt, covered with a thin layer of dust, iron oxide, which has the consistency of talc. Iron oxide (rust, as it is commonly called) gives the planet its characteristic red hue.

Volcanoes

In ancient times, volcanoes erupted continuously on the planet for millions of years. Due to the fact that Mars does not have plate tectonics, huge volcanic mountains formed. Mount Olympus was formed in a similar way and is the largest mountain in the solar system. It is three times higher than Everest. Such volcanic activity may also partly explain the deepest valley in the solar system. The Mariner Valley is believed to have formed as a result of the breakup of material between two points on the Martian surface.

craters

Animation showing changes around a crater in the Northern Hemisphere

There are many impact craters on Mars. Most of these craters remain intact because there are no forces on the planet capable of destroying them. The planet lacks the wind, rain and plate tectonics that cause erosion on Earth. The atmosphere is much thinner than that of Earth, so that even small meteorites can reach the earth.

The current surface of Mars is very different from what it was billions of years ago. Orbiter data has shown that there are many minerals and erosion marks on the planet that indicate the presence of liquid water in the past. It is possible that small oceans and long rivers once completed the landscape. The last remnants of this water were trapped underground in the form of ice.

Total number of craters

There are hundreds of thousands of craters on Mars, of which 43,000 are larger than 5 kilometers in diameter. Hundreds of them were named after scientists or famous astronomers. Craters less than 60 km across have been named after cities on Earth.

The most famous is Hellas Basin. It is 2100 km across and up to 9 km deep. It is surrounded by emissions that stretch for 4000 km from the center.

Crater formation

Most of the craters on Mars probably appeared during the late period of the "heavy bombardment" of our solar system, which occurred approximately 4.1 to 3.8 billion years ago. During this period, a large number of craters formed on all celestial bodies in the solar system. Evidence for this event comes from studies of lunar samples, which showed that most of the rocks were created during this time interval. Scholars cannot agree on the reasons for this bombardment. According to the theory, the orbit of the gas giant changed and as a result, the orbits of objects in the main asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt became more eccentric, reaching the orbits of the terrestrial planets.

Hellas Planitia

The second largest Hellas Planitia and the largest impact crater known in the solar system. It is located in the southern hemisphere of Mars. Data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Global Surveyor show that most of the planet's northern hemisphere is actually one large crater. This disputed region, currently referred to as the Arctic Basin, could potentially be 10,500 km in diameter, roughly 40% of the circumference of Mars itself. Scientists are still arguing about the interpretation of these data.