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Noticeable change on Mars can take millions of years \u2013 but\u00a0ESA\u2019s Mars Express\u00a0has captured a blanket of dark ash creeping across the planet in just decades.<\/p>\n
The image shows a scene of two halves, with Mars\u2019s typical bright tan-coloured sands butting up against dark deposits of volcanic ash. When this part of Mars was viewed by\u00a0NASA\u2019s Viking orbiters\u00a0in 1976, the ash was noticeably less widespread than it is today.<\/p>\n
But this image shows far more than just colour differences. We\u2019ve added labels to highlight features and regions of note. Be sure to click on these labels to explore the landscape in detail!<\/p>\n
This image comprises data gathered by Mars Express\u2019s\u00a0High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC)\u00a0on 9 November 2024 (orbit 26327). It was created using data from the nadir channel, the field of view\u00a0aligned perpendicular to the surface of Mars, and the colour channels of the HRSC. North is to the right. The ground resolution of the original image is approximately 17 m\/pixel and the image is centred at about 43\u00b0N\/102\u00b0E.<\/p>\n
Find out more<\/p>\n
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[Image description:\u00a0A wide view of the Martian surface seen from above. The landscape is split into two contrasting halves: the left side is lighter, sandy beige with faint ridges and cracks, while the right side is darker, reddish-brown and more heavily cratered. The boundary between the two regions is uneven and gradual, creating a striking colour contrast across the scene.]<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n