Gullies in Dunes Dubbed Kolhar. Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

It’s always a good time to get up close and personal with Mars.



NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been sending data back from our planetary neighbor since 2005, when it was launched to look for signs of water on Mars. While that objective may be getting more difficult by the day, the MRO has still been sending back some amazing high-resolution photographs from the surface that’ll facilitate the process of mapping the planet.


This month, the orbiter sent back a staggering number of images: over 1,000. According to the Smithsonian, they’re especially great for a few reasons, besides the fact that they’re images taken from space.

While scientists are receiving data monthly, there is a special time that allows them to receive large packets. Evern 26 months, Mars is in “opposition” with the sun, meaning that the sun and Mars are on opposite sides of the Earth. This also means that scientists have a direct connection with the orbiter, which allows for larger transfers.


In addition, the most recent opposition occurred at a time when the sun was shining on Mars’ equator, giving the MRO perfect lighting when normally, areas of the planet near the poles are in shadow.

You can view all the photos over at the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment’s website, along with all the photos that have been received from Mars. In total, there are over 44,000 images.

Here are some highlights but they’re all pretty spectacular.

Crater in Hesperia Planum. Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona


Depression with Terraced Margins Northwest of Nicholson Crater. Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Landforms at West End of Her Desher Vallis. Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona


Craters in Terra Sirenum. Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Valley with Flows in Noachis Terra. Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona


[Smithsonian Mag]

