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Credit & Copyright: D. Peach,
V. Suc,
Chilescope team
Explanation:
Still bright in evening skies,
Mars was just past opposition
and closest to Earth on July 31,
a mere 57.6 million kilometers away.
Captured only a week later, this remarkable image shows the
Red Planet's disk
near its maximum size in earthbound telescopes,
but still less than 1/74th the apparent diameter of a Full Moon.
Broad regional surface shadings are starting to reappear in the
tantalizing
view as the latest planet-wide
dust
storm subsides.
With the bright south polar cap at the bottom, the Valles
Marineris extends along the center of the disk.
Just below
it lies the roughly circular Solis Lacus region
sometimes known as the
Eye of Mars.
In a line, three prominent dark spots left of center are the volcanic
Tharsis Montes.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mars
Publications with words: Mars
See also:
- APOD: 2026 July 29 Á Psyche Receives Gravity Assist from Mars
- APOD: 2026 July 28 Á Barnards Loop over Twin Volcanoes
- APOD: 2026 July 21 Á Turtle Rock on Mars
- APOD: 2026 June 27 Á Mars Marathon by Perseverance
- APOD: 2026 February 22 Á Shadow of a Martian Robot
- APOD: 2026 February 1 Á Galle: Happy Face Crater on Mars
- APOD: 2025 September 28 Á Leopard Spots on Martian Rocks