Curving Martian landscapes were recently revealed through captivating images captured by NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter, announced by the space agency on Tuesday. These captivating images also displayed new panoramic views of clouds, dust, and one of Mars’ two moons. The orbiter’s camera, the Thermal Emission Imaging System, or THEMIS, was responsible for capturing these stunning vistas last May. The high-quality, rare images were taken at an impressive altitude of about 250 miles, which is the same altitude at which the International Space Station orbits above Earth.
Jaimi Hill, the operations lead of THEMIS, highlighted the extraordinary nature of these images, mentioning, “No Mars spacecraft has ever had this kind of view before.” Additionally, the Odyssey, having completed its 22nd year orbiting Mars, is expected to capture similar images in the future, providing comprehensive insights into the Martian atmosphere during various seasons.
Furthermore, the captivating images taken by THEMIS also centered on Mars’ moon, Phobos. These images are expected to provide vital insights into the moon’s composition and physical properties, enabling researchers to determine if Phobos is a captured asteroid or an ancient piece of Mars that was blasted off the surface due to an impact. Hill noted with excitement, “We got a different angle and lighting conditions of Phobos than we’re used to, making it a unique part of our Phobos dataset.”
