Mars Volcano Towers Above Red Planet Clouds

Odyssey Orbiter Reveals Stunning View of Arsia Mons

A newly released image from NASA’s Mars Odyssey Orbiter showcases Arsia Mons, a colossal volcano on Mars, rising dramatically above the planet’s cloud cover. The peak’s height dwarfs any volcano on Earth, offering new insights into the Martian atmosphere and potential landing sites.

A Giant Among Giants

Arsia Mons reaches an impressive 12 miles (19 kilometers) in altitude, exceeding the height of Mauna Loa in Hawaii – Earth’s tallest volcano – by a significant margin. The panoramic view, captured by the orbiter, reveals the volcano emerging from a thick layer of clouds, creating a breathtaking vista. According to NASA, the average elevation on Mars is about 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) below sea level, making Arsia Mons’s prominence even more striking.

Investigating the Martian Atmosphere

The Mars Odyssey Orbiter, launched in 2001, continues to provide valuable data after more than two decades in orbit. Its current mission phase, initiated in 2023, focuses on gathering information about the Martian atmosphere, crucial for planning future crewed missions. The orbiter’s THEMIS camera, capable of detecting both visible and infrared light, is instrumental in this endeavor.

“We picked Arsia Mons hoping we would see the summit poke above the early morning clouds. And it didn’t disappoint,”

—Jonathon Hill, Arizona State University

Understanding the composition and behavior of the Martian atmosphere is paramount, especially considering that dust storms on Mars can engulf the entire planet, as demonstrated by the global dust storm in 2018 which forced NASA to temporarily halt operations of the Opportunity rover. (NASA, 2019)

Water Ice Clouds and Seasonal Changes

Arsia Mons is part of the Tharsis Montes, a chain of volcanoes located near Mars’ equator. Unlike the carbon dioxide clouds typically found on Mars, these peaks are often surrounded by clouds composed of water ice, particularly noticeable in the early morning. The images reveal seasonal variations in these clouds, providing clues about the planet’s atmospheric evolution.

Michael D. Smith of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center noted, “We’re seeing some really significant seasonal differences in these horizon images. It’s giving us new clues to how Mars’ atmosphere evolves over time.”

The formation of these clouds is linked to air expanding and cooling as it ascends the volcano’s slopes. During Mars’ aphelion – its farthest point from the sun – cloud cover around Arsia Mons becomes denser, contributing to a ring of clouds around the Martian equator.

Analyzing these atmospheric phenomena will aid in ensuring safe landing conditions for future human explorers, as well as providing valuable insights into the potential for subsurface water ice, a critical resource for long-duration missions.