The beauty of Mars from 150 miles

Article written by Jim Secosky. Jim is a retired science teacher who has used the Hubble Space Telescope, the Mars Global Surveyor, and HiRISE.

This article will show some beautiful scenes of Mars from about 150 miles above the surface. The pictures were taken by High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) that orbits Mars. the colors are from a central strip in each of the images. The colors are processed to bring out more information about the minerals on the surface. They are not exactly what we would see with just our eyes. Some incorporate an infrared band which humans can't see.

The pictures are a labor of love for Jim Secosky. He started suggesting places for NASA to observe in 2010 through the HiWish program. Anyone can suggest places through that program. However, one often has to wait months or years for the pictures to be taken, processed, and released. The satellite mostly just takes pictures of what it passes over; hence, you may have to wait until it passes over something you suggested.

The collections of pictures here will not include much geology. If you wants to find out more, you can go to the references or links to other articles in Marspedia. Some talks are also listed that Jim gave for the Mars Society.

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                            Collage of pictures taken with HiRISE under HiWish program

Image shows the variety of different kinds of brain terrain on Mars. Brain terrain is called that because it resembles the surface of the human brain. It is thought to form when ice leaves the ground along cracks.

                                   Different kinds of impact craters on Mars.

Image shows dust devil tracks on Mars. Mars has many dust devils. When a dust devil passes, it removes the thin coating of bright dust. One then sees the dark undersurface.