<p>Mars is a world defined by extremes: it boasts the largest volcano in the solar system, canyons that dwarf Earth’s Grand Canyon, and dust storms that can swallow the planet for weeks at a time. Yet alongside these dramatic features lies a far subtler enigma, a ribbonlike cloud that mysteriously appears each year, stretching for thousands of kilometres across the Martian sky. Scientists have known of this recurring formation for decades, but only now are they uncovering the mechanics behind it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to the Daily Galaxy, this ghostly feature, formally known as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC), emerges on the western side of Arsia Mons, a dormant giant of a volcano nearly 20 kilometres high. Each Martian morning during the southern summer solstice season, water vapour condenses into ice crystals, forming a bright streak that can extend over 1,800 kilometres. By late morning, sunlight and changing winds cause the cloud to dissipate, only for the cycle to repeat daily for nearly three months. Despite its plume-like look, the cloud has nothing to do with volcanic activity, the volcano itself has been silent for millions of years.</p><h2>Cracking the Mystery</h2><p>For years, computer models struggled to explain how such a massive and consistent structure could arise in Mars’ thin, dusty atmosphere, an atmosphere just 1 per cent the density of Earth’s. The key turned out to be a process called homogeneous nucleation, in which ice particles form without the usual dust grains serving as seeds. This requires extreme supersaturation of water vapour, something researchers once thought impossible on Mars. But when scientists simulated conditions with unusually high water content interacting with the slopes of Arsia Mons, the AMEC appeared in their models just as it does in the sky.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Much of this progress stems from long-term monitoring by the European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter, which has been circling the planet since 2003. Its High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) has captured a vast array of Martian clouds, from fluffy, Earthlike formations to structures shaped by atmospheric waves. Using this treasure trove of images, researchers at the German Aerospace Centre have built the HRSC Cloud Atlas, a detailed catalogue that is allowing scientists to trace how topography, winds, and dust interact to create Mars’ atmospheric patterns.</p><h2>Why It Matters</h2><p>The AMEC is more than a spectacular curiosity. Its regular appearance shows how water vapour, terrain, and air currents combine to create surprisingly stable weather systems in Mars’ fragile atmosphere. Unlocking these processes not only sharpens our understanding of Martian meteorology but also sheds light on where and how water moves around the Red Planet, vital knowledge for future exploration and the search for habitability.</p>

Composed entirely of water ice, as Mars’ temperatures are far too low for liquid water, the cloud grows each dawn, disappears by evening, and then reappears the next day for nearly three months.

Mars is a world defined by extremes: it boasts the largest volcano in the solar system, canyons that dwarf Earth’s Grand Canyon, and dust storms that can swallow the planet for weeks at a time. Yet alongside these dramatic features lies a far subtler enigma, a ribbonlike cloud that mysteriously appears each year, stretching for thousands of kilometres across the Martian sky. Scientists have known of this recurring formation for decades, but only now are they uncovering the mechanics behind it. According to the Daily Galaxy, this ghostly feature, formally known as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC), emerges on the western side of Arsia Mons, a dormant giant of a volcano nearly 20 kilometres high. Each Martian morning during the southern summer solstice season, water vapour condenses into ice crystals, forming a bright streak that can extend over 1,800 kilometres. By late morning, sunlight and changing winds cause the cloud to dissipate, only for the cycle to repeat daily for nearly three months. Despite its plume-like look, the cloud has nothing to do with volcanic activity, the volcano itself has been silent for millions of years. Cracking the Mystery For years, computer models struggled to explain how such a massive and consistent structure could arise in Mars’ thin, dusty atmosphere, an atmosphere just 1 per cent the density of Earth’s. The key turned out to be a process called homogeneous nucleation, in which ice particles form without the usual dust grains serving as seeds. This requires extreme supersaturation of water vapour, something researchers once thought impossible on Mars. But when scientists simulated conditions with unusually high water content interacting with the slopes of Arsia Mons, the AMEC appeared in their models just as it does in the sky. Much of this progress stems from long-term monitoring by the European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter, which has been circling the planet since 2003. Its High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) has captured a vast array of Martian clouds, from fluffy, Earthlike formations to structures shaped by atmospheric waves. Using this treasure trove of images, researchers at the German Aerospace Centre have built the HRSC Cloud Atlas, a detailed catalogue that is allowing scientists to trace how topography, winds, and dust interact to create Mars’ atmospheric patterns. Why It Matters The AMEC is more than a spectacular curiosity. Its regular appearance shows how water vapour, terrain, and air currents combine to create surprisingly stable weather systems in Mars’ fragile atmosphere. Unlocking these processes not only sharpens our understanding of Martian meteorology but also sheds light on where and how water moves around the Red Planet, vital knowledge for future exploration and the search for habitability.

<p>Composed entirely of water ice, as Mars’ temperatures are far too low for liquid water, the cloud grows each dawn, disappears by evening, and then reappears the next day for nearly three months.</p>

A 1,800 kilometre cloud reappears on Mars every year and scientists finally know why

<p>In a remarkable display of science and engineering, the Mars Express orbiter has clicked remarkable pictures across a gulf of some 300 million kilometres. At first glance, the view might not look like much, just a fuzzy, out-of-focus image. But, it is the Earth and the Moon captured from a distance of roughly 186.4 million miles and a reminder of our collective duty to preserve the "pale blue dot."</p>

<h2><strong>A blob and another blob</strong></h2>

<p>The sequence of four images showcases a fuzzy grey scene with a white blob representing the Sun and a fainter, smaller blob depicting Earth and the Moon as they move across the sky.</p>

<p>These images, as per Science Alert, were captured by the super-resolution channel of Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera on 15, 21, and 27 May, and 2 June 2023 and were taken to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Mars Express.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/hubble-telescope-captures-spiral-galaxy-right-after-supernova-explosion-616311">Hubble telescope captures spiral galaxy right after Supernova explosion</a></strong></p>

<p>Evoking the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image captured by Voyager 1 in 1990, the significance of these snapshots goes beyond their visual appeal.</p>

<h2><strong>The significance of these images</strong></h2>

<p>Astronomer Jorge Hernández Bernal of the University of the Basque Country and Sorbonne University emphasised the relevance of these images in the context of the worsening climate and ecological crisis. He said that they "wanted to bring Carl Sagan's reflections back to the present day, in which the worsening climate and ecological crisis make them more valid than ever."</p>

<p>"In these simple snapshots from Mars Express, Earth has the equivalent size as an ant seen from a distance of 100 metres, and we are all in there. Even though we have seen images like these before, it is still humbling to pause and think: we need to look after the pale blue dot, there is no planet B."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You’re on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mars</a>, looking back home to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Earth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Earth</a>. How do you feel?<br />
<br />
These simple images of the Moon orbiting Earth by <a href="https://twitter.com/esa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@esa</a> Mars Express might be similar to what you’d see through binoculars as a human traveller to Mars<br />
<br />
🔗<a href="https://t.co/74Hkwenp0e">https://t.co/74Hkwenp0e</a> <a href="https://t.co/fRhTdKXfLF">pic.twitter.com/fRhTdKXfLF</a></p>
— ESA Science (@esascience) <a href="https://twitter.com/esascience/status/1679054874971893760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-spectacular-video-of-chandrayaan-3-lift-off-recorded-from-plane-goes-viral-616208">Watch | Spectacular video of Chandrayaan-3 lift-off recorded from plane goes viral</a></strong></p>

<p>As per the Mars Express team, while these images hold no scientific value, they seized the opportunity to capture these snapshots.</p>

<h2><strong>"That's home. That's us": Carl Sagan</strong></h2>

<p>In his 1994 book 'Pale Blue Dot', talking about an image of Earth captured by Voyager 1 in 1990, Sagan wrote "That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives."</p>

<p>"The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilisation, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every 'superstar,' every 'supreme leader,' every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In a remarkable display of science and engineering, the Mars Express orbiter has clicked remarkable pictures across a gulf of some 300 million kilometres. At first glance, the view might not look like much, just a fuzzy, out-of-focus image.

In a remarkable display of science and engineering, the Mars Express orbiter has clicked remarkable pictures across a gulf of some 300 million kilometres. At first glance, the view might not look like much, just a fuzzy, out-of-focus image. But, it is the Earth and the Moon captured from a distance of roughly 186.4 million miles and a reminder of our collective duty to preserve the "pale blue dot." A blob and another blob The sequence of four images showcases a fuzzy grey scene with a white blob representing the Sun and a fainter, smaller blob depicting Earth and the Moon as they move across the sky. These images, as per Science Alert, were captured by the super-resolution channel of Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera on 15, 21, and 27 May, and 2 June 2023 and were taken to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Mars Express. Also read | Hubble telescope captures spiral galaxy right after Supernova explosion Evoking the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image captured by Voyager 1 in 1990, the significance of these snapshots goes beyond their visual appeal. The significance of these images Astronomer Jorge Hernández Bernal of the University of the Basque Country and Sorbonne University emphasised the relevance of these images in the context of the worsening climate and ecological crisis. He said that they "wanted to bring Carl Sagan's reflections back to the present day, in which the worsening climate and ecological crisis make them more valid than ever." "In these simple snapshots from Mars Express, Earth has the equivalent size as an ant seen from a distance of 100 metres, and we are all in there. Even though we have seen images like these before, it is still humbling to pause and think: we need to look after the pale blue dot, there is no planet B." You’re on #Mars, looking back home to #Earth. How do you feel? These simple images of the Moon orbiting Earth by @esa Mars Express might be similar to what you’d see through binoculars as a human traveller to Mars 🔗https://t.co/74Hkwenp0e pic.twitter.com/fRhTdKXfLF — ESA Science (@esascience) July 12, 2023 × Also read | Watch | Spectacular video of Chandrayaan-3 lift-off recorded from plane goes viral As per the Mars Express team, while these images hold no scientific value, they seized the opportunity to capture these snapshots. "That's home. That's us": Carl Sagan In his 1994 book 'Pale Blue Dot', talking about an image of Earth captured by Voyager 1 in 1990, Sagan wrote "That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives." "The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilisation, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every 'superstar,' every 'supreme leader,' every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Martian perspective: Mars Express celebrates 20th anniversary with mysterious space pics. Check them out!

<p>After the installation of a major software update that enabled NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to drive faster and also reduced wear and tear on its wheels, the robot took stunning captures of the “Marker Band Valley” before leaving it behind.</p>

<p>The postcard, showcasing the picturesque landscape from the red planet, is an artistic representation of what Mars looks like at different times of the day.</p>

<p>In a news release, NASA said that the panoramas captured by the robot were taken with black-and-white navigation cameras on April 8, 2023.</p>

<p>The colours were further added to the black-and-white panoramas with blue being added to the parts of the postcard clicked in the morning and yellow to the ones clicked in the afternoon.</p>

<p>Further giving details of the postcard, NASA said that it shows several landmarks of Mars including "Marker Band Valley," where the rover discovered unexpected signs of an ancient lake and also two hills named "Bolivar" and "Deepdale".</p>

<p><img alt="Figure A is an annotated version of the postcard noting geographic features and elements of the rover." src="https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/1627" /></p>

<p>“Anyone who’s been to a national park knows the scene looks different in the morning than it does in the afternoon,” said Curiosity engineer Doug Ellison of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who planned and processed the images. “Capturing two times of the day provides dark shadows because the lighting is coming in from the left and the right, like you might have on a stage – but instead of stage lights, we’re relying on the Sun.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-share-of-photo-new-supernova-shining-brightly-in-pinwheel-galaxy-603496">Astronomers share photo of new supernova shining brightly in Pinwheel Galaxy</a></p>

<p>NASA further noted that the rover took the photos during winter time and that the shadows during that time of the year are deeper and darker as the dust levels in the Martian atmosphere are at their lowest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mars' shadows get sharper and deeper when there's low dust and softer when there's lots of dust," Ellison said.</p>

<h2><strong>New images of Mars raise questions over its redness</strong></h2>

<p>A new image of Mars is raising questions over its redness, and it looks like Mars isn't as red as we might have thought.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new mosaic of Mars has been released to mark 20 years since the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Mars Express, which is a spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for two decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)'s data was used to create the mosaic. The image reveals the planet's colour and composition in spectacular detail... not so red.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Say cheese! 📸 Over the past 20 years, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarsExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarsExpress</a> has orbited Mars 24,510 times, during which our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HRSC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HRSC</a> has acquired 6916 images. 😲 We couldn’t quite fit all of them into this video, but you can find the best ones on our Flickr gallery: <a href="https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM">https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFzxzqOUrT">pic.twitter.com/rFzxzqOUrT</a></p>
— DLR - English (@DLR_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLR_en/status/1664624837841518592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>On its website, ESA said that Mars appears in the night sky different from all the other gleaming dots in the darkness. Notably, the changing atmosphere of Mars has made it difficult to see all the colours on the planet from space in the past.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a post, ESA said that the "dust scatters and reflects light, causing colours to shift between images". The space agency said that when the mismatched pieces are put together, the result is usually patchy looking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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After the installation of a major software update that enabled NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to drive faster and also reduced wear and tear on its wheels, the robot took stunning captures of the “Marker Band Valley” before leaving it behind.

After the installation of a major software update that enabled NASA's Curiosity Mars rover to drive faster and also reduced wear and tear on its wheels, the robot took stunning captures of the “Marker Band Valley” before leaving it behind. The postcard, showcasing the picturesque landscape from the red planet, is an artistic representation of what Mars looks like at different times of the day. In a news release, NASA said that the panoramas captured by the robot were taken with black-and-white navigation cameras on April 8, 2023. The colours were further added to the black-and-white panoramas with blue being added to the parts of the postcard clicked in the morning and yellow to the ones clicked in the afternoon. Further giving details of the postcard, NASA said that it shows several landmarks of Mars including "Marker Band Valley," where the rover discovered unexpected signs of an ancient lake and also two hills named "Bolivar" and "Deepdale". “Anyone who’s been to a national park knows the scene looks different in the morning than it does in the afternoon,” said Curiosity engineer Doug Ellison of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, who planned and processed the images. “Capturing two times of the day provides dark shadows because the lighting is coming in from the left and the right, like you might have on a stage – but instead of stage lights, we’re relying on the Sun.” Also read: Astronomers share photo of new supernova shining brightly in Pinwheel Galaxy NASA further noted that the rover took the photos during winter time and that the shadows during that time of the year are deeper and darker as the dust levels in the Martian atmosphere are at their lowest. "Mars' shadows get sharper and deeper when there's low dust and softer when there's lots of dust," Ellison said. New images of Mars raise questions over its redness A new image of Mars is raising questions over its redness, and it looks like Mars isn't as red as we might have thought. The new mosaic of Mars has been released to mark 20 years since the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Mars Express, which is a spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for two decades. Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)'s data was used to create the mosaic. The image reveals the planet's colour and composition in spectacular detail... not so red. Say cheese! 📸 Over the past 20 years, #MarsExpress has orbited Mars 24,510 times, during which our #HRSC has acquired 6916 images. 😲 We couldn’t quite fit all of them into this video, but you can find the best ones on our Flickr gallery: https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM pic.twitter.com/rFzxzqOUrT — DLR - English (@DLR_en) June 2, 2023 × On its website, ESA said that Mars appears in the night sky different from all the other gleaming dots in the darkness. Notably, the changing atmosphere of Mars has made it difficult to see all the colours on the planet from space in the past. In a post, ESA said that the "dust scatters and reflects light, causing colours to shift between images". The space agency said that when the mismatched pieces are put together, the result is usually patchy looking. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sends beautiful postcard from red planet showing different times of day

<p>Scientists are busy trying to find answers to the questions - is Mars habitable... is there a potential for life beneath the Martian crust? Mars is the fourth planet and the furthest terrestrial planet from the Sun. It is known as the "Red Planet" because the reddish colour of its surface is due to finely-grained iron (III) oxide dust in the soil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But a new image of Mars is raising questions over its redness. It looks like Mars isn't as red as we might have thought.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new mosaic of Mars has been released to mark 20 years since the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Mars Express, which is a spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for two decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)'s data was used to create the mosaic. The image reveals the planet's colour and composition in spectacular detail... not so red.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-share-of-photo-new-supernova-shining-brightly-in-pinwheel-galaxy-603496">Astronomers share photo of new supernova shining brightly in Pinwheel Galaxy</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Look at the image:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Say cheese! 📸 Over the past 20 years, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarsExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarsExpress</a> has orbited Mars 24,510 times, during which our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HRSC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HRSC</a> has acquired 6916 images. 😲 We couldn’t quite fit all of them into this video, but you can find the best ones on our Flickr gallery: <a href="https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM">https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFzxzqOUrT">pic.twitter.com/rFzxzqOUrT</a></p>
— DLR - English (@DLR_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLR_en/status/1664624837841518592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Birthday, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarsExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarsExpress</a>!🎂🛰️<br />
<br />
Planned for two years, 'MEX' enters its 3rd decade.<br />
<br />
During its lifetime it's re-written our view of a planet that perhaps once looked more like our own home, and where we plan to soon set foot 👉<a href="https://t.co/BFBo9RA3Tc">https://t.co/BFBo9RA3Tc</a><br />
<br />
📸New mosaic, MEX's HRSC <a href="https://t.co/1rbz9rIcrn">pic.twitter.com/1rbz9rIcrn</a></p>
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) <a href="https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1664575298124251136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>On its website, ESA said that Mars appears in the night sky different from all the other gleaming dots in the darkness. Notably, the changing atmosphere of Mars has made it difficult to see all the colours on the planet from space in the past.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a post, ESA said that the "dust scatters and reflects light, causing colours to shift between images". The space agency said that when the mismatched pieces are put together, the result is usually patchy looking.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-body-to-stretch-like-a-long-pasta-if-earth-falls-into-black-hole-claim-scientists-603408">Human body will stretch like a 'long pasta' if Earth ever falls into black hole, claim scientists</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The images reveal unprecedented colour variations and the planet’s diverse composition. The mosaic by ESA highlights reddish oxidized iron, dark volcanic basaltic sands, and bright areas. It suggests the past presence of liquid water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mosaic produced here by HRSC gathered 90 images at higher altitudes of 4000 to 10,000 km. It is capturing areas around 2500 km wide and when these images were then put together to form a full global view. The process helped to produce a richer colour view of Mars than has been seen before.&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists are busy trying to find answers to the questions - is Mars habitable... is there a potential for life beneath the Martian crust? Mars is the fourth planet and the furthest terrestrial planet from the Sun.

Scientists are busy trying to find answers to the questions - is Mars habitable... is there a potential for life beneath the Martian crust? Mars is the fourth planet and the furthest terrestrial planet from the Sun. It is known as the "Red Planet" because the reddish colour of its surface is due to finely-grained iron (III) oxide dust in the soil. But a new image of Mars is raising questions over its redness. It looks like Mars isn't as red as we might have thought. The new mosaic of Mars has been released to mark 20 years since the launch of the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Mars Express, which is a spacecraft that has been orbiting the planet for two decades. Mars Express's High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)'s data was used to create the mosaic. The image reveals the planet's colour and composition in spectacular detail... not so red. Also read | Astronomers share photo of new supernova shining brightly in Pinwheel Galaxy Look at the image: Say cheese! 📸 Over the past 20 years, #MarsExpress has orbited Mars 24,510 times, during which our #HRSC has acquired 6916 images. 😲 We couldn’t quite fit all of them into this video, but you can find the best ones on our Flickr gallery: https://t.co/ey8vXRxlmM pic.twitter.com/rFzxzqOUrT — DLR - English (@DLR_en) June 2, 2023 × Happy Birthday, #MarsExpress!🎂🛰️ Planned for two years, 'MEX' enters its 3rd decade. During its lifetime it's re-written our view of a planet that perhaps once looked more like our own home, and where we plan to soon set foot 👉https://t.co/BFBo9RA3Tc 📸New mosaic, MEX's HRSC pic.twitter.com/1rbz9rIcrn — ESA Operations (@esaoperations) June 2, 2023 × On its website, ESA said that Mars appears in the night sky different from all the other gleaming dots in the darkness. Notably, the changing atmosphere of Mars has made it difficult to see all the colours on the planet from space in the past. In a post, ESA said that the "dust scatters and reflects light, causing colours to shift between images". The space agency said that when the mismatched pieces are put together, the result is usually patchy looking. Also read | Human body will stretch like a 'long pasta' if Earth ever falls into black hole, claim scientists The images reveal unprecedented colour variations and the planet’s diverse composition. The mosaic by ESA highlights reddish oxidized iron, dark volcanic basaltic sands, and bright areas. It suggests the past presence of liquid water. The mosaic produced here by HRSC gathered 90 images at higher altitudes of 4000 to 10,000 km. It is capturing areas around 2500 km wide and when these images were then put together to form a full global view. The process helped to produce a richer colour view of Mars than has been seen before. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

It's not so red. Never-before-seen images of Mars are absolutely stunning

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A 1,800 kilometre cloud reappears on Mars every year and scientists finally know why

Martian perspective: Mars Express celebrates 20th anniversary with mysterious space pics. Check them out!

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover sends beautiful postcard from red planet showing different times of day

It's not so red. Never-before-seen images of Mars are absolutely stunning