The annotated area of Mars in this illustration holds near-surface water ice that would be easily accessible for astronauts to dig up. The water ice was identified as part of a map using data from NASA orbiters.
December 10, 2019
This rainbow-colored map shows underground water ice on Mars. Cool colors are closer to the surface than warm colors; black zones indicate areas where a spacecraft would sink into fine dust; the outlined box represents the ideal region to send astronauts for them to dig up water ice.
December 10, 2019
The yellow-white cloud in the bottom-center of this image is a Mars "dust tower" - a concentrated cloud of dust that can be lofted dozens of miles above the surface. The blue-white plumes are water vapor clouds.
November 26, 2019
Lighter colors represent higher elevation in this image of Jezero Crater on Mars, the landing site for NASA's Mars 2020 mission. The oval indicates the landing ellipse, where the rover will be touching down on Mars.
November 12, 2019
Color has been added to highlight minerals in this image of Jezero Crater on Mars, the landing site for NASA's Mars 2020 mission. The green color represents minerals called carbonates, which are especially good at preserving fossilized life on Earth.
November 12, 2019
This animation shows the position of NASA's Curiosity rover as it journeyed through "the clay-bearing unit" on Mars between May 31 and July 20, 2019. The HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took both images.
October 16, 2019
This animation demonstrates the salty ponds and streams that scientists think may have been left behind as Gale Crater dried out over time. The bottom of the image is the floor of Gale Crater, with the peak being the side of Mount Sharp.
October 7, 2019
This animation illustrates Mars solar conjunction, a period when Mars is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth. During this time, the Sun can interrupt radio transmissions to spacecraft on and around the Red Planet.
August 23, 2019
Cydonia Labyrinthus is a complex of intersecting valleys that form a polygonal fractured terrain.
July 15, 2019
NASAs Curiosity Mars rover can be seen in this image taken from space on May 31, 2019, by the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
July 12, 2019
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover can be seen in this image taken from space on May 31, 2019, by the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. In the image, Curiosity appears as a bluish speck.
July 12, 2019
This image, acquired by NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a new impact crater that has appeared on the surface of Mars, formed at most between September 2016 and February 2019.
June 18, 2019
This image acquired on September 24, 2018 by NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a huge tongue-like form, which looks a like a mudflow with boulders on its surface.
June 12, 2019
This image, acquired on October 1, 2018 by NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a wavy surface like that of the sea. These wave shapes are the result of erosion.
June 12, 2019
This image, acquired on April 22, 2019 by NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows curious chevron shapes in southeast Hellas Planitia which are the result of a complex story of dunes, lava, and wind.
June 12, 2019
