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The 10 Best Mars Images Ever
By Robert Roy Britt
Senior Science Writer
posted: 07:00 am ET
03 December 2002
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Night
Vision
Click to enlarge
One of the most coveted discoveries
on Mars, if it ever occurs, will be liquid water. NASA's Odyssey spacecraft came
close with the recent finding of water ice under the surface. Odyssey benefits
from what was learned by every spacecraft before it, and it succeeded by being
a marvel of technological diversity.
Odyssey probably won't be remembered
for its Martian photographs, however. Scenes from other orbiting spacecraft have
already shown us the entire planet. But Odyssey is giving dramatic (if unconventional)
views, including some taken with an infrared camera that will lead to an infrared
map of Mars.
This infrared image is among
the favorites of Philip Christensen, an Arizona State University geologist in
charge of Odyssey's cameras. It shows the entire spring/summer south polar cap.
[Full
story about this image]
"Because the image is an infrared
image -- the first ever taken of the polar regions of Mars -- one can see details
on the night side as well," he said. "The purple colors in the lower
right of the image are actually in the dark."
The possibility of liquid water,
and maybe even life on Mars, await further investigation that may well be beyond
Odyssey's reach. [Odyssey
Special Report]
Next Page: Parting Shot
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