Extremely elongated cloud returns over Arsia Mons volcano, Mars

Extremely elongated cloud returns over Arsia Mons volcano, Mars

The Visual Monitoring Camera (VMC) attached to Mars Express captured a mysteriously long, thin cloud over the 20 km (12 miles) high Arsia Mons volcano on July 17 and 19, 2020. According to ESA, the cloud is a recurrent feature made up of water ice and is influenced…

Unusual green glow detected for the first time in atmosphere of Mars

Unusual green glow detected for the first time in atmosphere of Mars

The European Space AGency's (ESA) Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) has detected an unusual green glow for the first time in the atmosphere of Mars. According to the new study, the bright emission has been predicted to exist at Mars for around 40 years. "One of the…

Highly-detailed images reveal evidence of ancient rivers on Mars

Highly-detailed images reveal evidence of ancient rivers on Mars

A high-resolution satellite has captured detailed images of a rocky cliff on Mars, revealing the first evidence of ancient rivers that existed for more than 100 000 years on the surface of the planet, 3.7 billion years ago. The international team of scientists used…

Stormy activity and rippling ice at Mars’ north pole

Stormy activity and rippling ice at Mars’ north pole

The European Space Agency (ESA) shared a stunning image captured by Mars Express' High-Resolution Stereo Camera on the red planet, showing a stormy activity on the icy cap at the north pole, with swathes of ice, dark troughs, depressions, and signs of strong…

First active fault zone spotted on Mars

First active fault zone spotted on Mars

Scientists were able to find the first active fault zone yet on Mars after NASA's InSight mission spacecraft detected marsquakes, with two standing out loud and clear. These events registered between M3 and 4– both were from an area called Cerberus Fossae– a…

Global storms on Mars launch dust towers 80 km (50 miles) into the sky

Global storms on Mars launch dust towers 80 km (50 miles) into the sky

When a massive dust storm on Mars– like the one in 2018– reaches its full potential, it can transform into a globe-bestriding colossus. This happens often on the red planet, and these storms typically start out as a sequence of smaller storms. NASA scientists said…

Martian dust storm now officially a global dust event

Martian dust storm now officially a global dust event

One of the most intense dust storms ever observed on Mars is raging across the planet since May 30, 2018. The storm grew rapidly over the next 20 days and is now officially a 'planet-encircling' (global) dust event. Although Martian dust storms are common…