Produced by: Tarun Mishra
The European Space Agency (ESA) recently unveiled never-before-seen images of Mars, showcasing the planet's volcanic region and its largest moon, Phobos.
The images were captured by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, which completed its 25,000th orbit around Mars, marking a significant milestone in its mission.
The pictures depict the Tharsis region of Mars, known for its colossal volcanoes like Olympus Mons, along with Phobos, Mars' largest moon, which orbits much closer to the planet than Earth's moon does to Earth.
The images showcase fascinating geological features such as canyons, landslides, and wispy clouds, providing insights into Mars' surface and atmosphere.
Specifically, the images highlight Mars' towering volcanoes, including Olympus, Arsia, Pavonis, Ascraeus Mons, and others, along with intriguing weather features visible at the bottom of the frame.
Over the past two decades, Mars Express has revolutionized our understanding of the Red Planet, mapping its atmosphere, tracing the history of water, studying Martian moons, and capturing breathtaking 3D views.
ESA's post showcasing the images has garnered significant attention on social media, with over 36,000 likes and numerous comments expressing awe and appreciation for the stunning imagery and the agency's ongoing exploration efforts.
Since its arrival at Mars in late 2003, the Mars Express orbiter has conducted extensive research, mapping the planet's atmosphere, studying its surface features, and providing unprecedented insights into Martian geology and geography.