In 2003, the Hubble Space Telescope snapped this photo of the red planet 11 hours before its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years. How close? It was a mere 34,648,840 miles (55,760,220 kilometers) away. The next closest approach will be in 2287.
Sulfur-rich rocks in the Columbia Hills on Mars stand out in bright blue in this false-color image from the Spirit rover. Spirit used its rock abrasion tool, or RAT, to grind a hole in the rock. The rock's high sulfur content and softness are probably evidence of past alteration by water.
The rover Spirit moves in to closely inspect an outcrop of rocks near the summit of Husband Hill on Mars. The red planet's geologic features are similar to some of those in Death Valley, California.
The Mars rover Spirit snapped this panoramic photo of Mars, the first color image ever taken of the red planet. Like other terrestrial planets (Earth, Mercury, and Venus), Mars's surface has been changed by volcanoes, hits from other bodies, and movements of its crust.
18th September 2010
Mars
