2. Mars by Hubble

No single astronomy event in recent memory captured the collective human imagination like the close encounter with Mars in August, 2003. Afterward, scientists and public relations officials argued over whether they had helped create too much fuss. After all, to anyone without a pretty expensive telescope, Mars was nothing more than a bright dot in the night sky.

But for people with the right equipment, the dusty world came alive. For those who didn't have the technological goods, the Hubble Space Telescope captured the moment of closest approach for posterity.

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