This volcano on Mars is taller than Earth's Mount Everest
Arsia Mons, an ancient Martian volcano, was captured before dawn on May 2, 2025, by NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter. (Photo: Nasa)
The volcano's summit was seen poking above a canopy of water ice clouds, a phenomenon common in the region during Mars' aphelion, when the planet is farthest from the Sun. This period creates the 'aphelion cloud belt,' a striking band of clouds that forms across the Martian equator and is prominently displayed in Odyssey's new image.advertisementThe Odyssey spacecraft, launched in 2001, is the longest-running mission orbiting another planet. To capture this unique image, the orbiter rotated 90 degrees, allowing its Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera—designed to study the Martian surface—to photograph the horizon instead.This innovative angle enables scientists to observe layers of dust and water ice clouds, as well as seasonal changes in the Martian atmosphere.
Arsia Mons is the southernmost of the three volcanoes that make up Tharsis Montes, shown in the center of this cropped topographic map of Mars. (Photo: Nasa)
'We're seeing some really significant seasonal differences in these horizon images,' said Michael D. Smith, planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. 'It's giving us new clues to how Mars' atmosphere evolves over time'.Understanding these clouds is crucial for predicting Martian weather and preparing for future missions, including safe landings. Arsia Mons itself is not only a geological marvel—measuring 270 miles (450 kilometers) in diameter—but also a key to understanding Mars' atmospheric dynamics.Jonathon Hill, operations lead for Odyssey's THEMIS camera, summed up the excitement: 'We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds. And it didn't disappoint'.
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