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 30 August 2008 04:22 BST

Images of the red planet

Wednesday, 11 Jun 2008 10:45
Ever wondered what the surface of Mars looks like? With Nasa's Phoenix spacecraft currently exploring the Red Planet images are being beamed back to Earth for scientists and the public to study.

Here are just a few of the numerous shots taken by Phoenix so far:


Close-up of the surface This image shows a view of the dusty and rocky surface of Mars from Phoenix's stereo surface imager's left eye.




Martian surface dug by PhoenixTrenches dug by Phoenix's Robotic Arm. The trench on the left is informally called 'Dodo' and was dug as a test and the trench on the right is informally called 'Baby Bear'. The sample dug from Baby Bear will be delivered to the Phoenix's thermal and evolved-gas Analyser, or TEGA. The Baby Bear trench is 9 centimetres (3.1 inches) wide and 4 centimetres (1.6 inches) deep..




Possible ice on Mars This view shows smooth surfaces cleared from overlying soil by the rocket exhaust during landing. The amount of excavated smooth and level surfaces adds evidence to a theory that the underlying material is an ice table covered by a thin blanket of soil.




Phoenix landing Phoenix hanging from its parachute as it descended to the Martian surface. This image was captured by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Shown here is a ten kilometre (six mile) diameter crater informally called 'Heimdall', and an improved full-resolution image of the parachute and lander. Although it appears that Phoenix is descending into the crater, it is actually about 20 kilometres (about 12 miles) in front of the crater..

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