Mars orbiter captures rare view of ancient volcano emerging above the clouds

NASA's Mars Odyssey captures Arsia Mons peeking above clouds in a rare image.

: In a rare capture, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter photographed Mars' massive volcano Arsia Mons emerging above a vast sea of clouds, offering a unique perspective of the Martian terrain. This visual was captured on May 2, 2025, just before dawn, showing Arsia Mons as it stands at an impressive height of 12 miles and a diameter of 70 miles. The view, made possible by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), adds valuable data for studying Martian atmospheric phenomena like cloud formations and their seasonal variations. Jonathon Hill, operations lead for Odyssey’s camera, expressed satisfaction with the capture of the volcano peering through the early morning haze.

NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter has achieved a fascinating milestone by capturing a rare image of Mars' volcano, Arsia Mons, rising above the clouds. This extraordinary image, taken on May 2, 2025, presents Arsia Mons against a backdrop of the Martian horizon, a view seldom seen in previous missions. Odyssey, which has been orbiting Mars for over twenty years, used its thermal emission imaging system to snap this image just before dawn. The result is a breathtaking visualization of the Red Planet's phenomenal geological features and atmospheric conditions. The standout detail of this operation was the 90-degree rotation of the orbiter to capture Mars' 'limb' or horizon, providing a glimpse of the immense Arsia Mons peeking above the cloud cover.

Amongst Mars' soaring landscapes, Arsia Mons holds the title as one of Mars' tallest volcanoes. Standing at an astounding 12 miles above the surface with a sprawling diameter of 70 miles, it rivals some of Earth's most gigantic volcanic structures. For comparison, Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa, stands six miles above the seafloor with a diameter of 75 miles. Located as the southernmost of the trio known as the Tharsis Montes, Arsia Mons frequently encounters cloud formations, especially during the early hours. These clouds are predominantly composed of water ice and form when rising warm air expands and cools as it moves up the mountain's slopes.

The photo of Arsia Mons is not just visually stunning but serves a significant scientific purpose. It offers key insights into Martian weather patterns, showcasing cloud dynamics and other atmospheric phenomena such as dust storms and their seasonal changes. This data is vital in piecing together Mars' climatological history and understanding weather processes on the Martian surface. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) played a crucial role, with its dual capability to capture visible and infrared wavelengths, thus enhancing our understanding of Martian atmospheric and surface properties.

Odyssey’s mission stands as a testament to remarkable engineering and scientific endeavor, continuing to extend its operations well beyond its expected timeline. Jonathon Hill, the operations lead for Odyssey’s camera, hailing from Arizona State University’s Mars Space Flight Facility, was particularly pleased with the successful efforts to capture this incredible view. As he mentioned in a statement, "We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds. And it didn’t disappoint."

The precious snaps also signify a celebratory moment for THEMS as it marked the fourth successful 'limb' observation since 2023. Despite technological constraints, Odyssey's maneuverable design allowed the orbiter a certain degree of freedom, permitting these spectacular captures. The experience collected over decades ensures that Odyssey might continue to return such key observations, contributing to our deeper comprehension of Mars' weather, geology, and its potential for life in future missions.

Sources: Gizmodo, NASA, Arizona State University

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