NASA captures view of largest volcano in our solar system using Mars Odyssey orbiter

NASA's Odyssey orbiter captured image of Olympus Mons on March 11, 2024 (Photo - NASA)

On March 11, 2024, NASA has recently captured an epic view of the largest volcano in our solar system named Olympus Mons using the Mars Odyssey orbiter.

The volcano is huge in size, covering up to 373 miles of area and is 17 miles tall. This volcano is located on Mars where the Odyssey orbiter since its arrival at Mars in 2001 till now has completed over 100,000 orbits around Mars and has managed to capture 1.4 million images of the red planet.

This mission is one of the longest missions operational around another planet, this spacecraft has contributed to the study of valuable data, Mars geology, Martian life and its environment.

For the past 23 years, the Mars Odyssey orbiter has been mapping various minerals and ice on the Martian surface. Recently, scientists utilized the orbiter's camera to capture a breathtaking image, which helped them gain insights into cloud formation and dust patterns on Mars.

Jeffrey Plaut Odyssey’s project scientist, of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California in his statement regarding this mission has mentioned that “Normally we see Olympus Mons in narrow strips from above, but by turning the spacecraft toward the horizon we can see in a single image how large it looms over the landscape, not only is the image spectacular, it also provides us with unique science data.”

This Odyssey's latest image captures the Odyssey team's collaborative efforts, a bluish-white band can be seen in the Martian atmosphere, highlighting the significant amount of dust present, as confirmed by NASA.

A delicate purple layer has been observed, attributed to a blend of atmospheric dust and bluish water-ice clouds. Researchers indicate that the blue-green layer represents water-ice clouds that have extended approximately 30 miles (48 kilometres) into the Martian atmosphere.

By capturing these images at various times throughout the year, scientists can examine the changes in the Martian atmosphere across its four distinct seasons. Each Martian season spans from four to seven months, allowing researchers to gather comprehensive data on how atmospheric conditions evolve.

This seasonal study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of Mars' climate and weather patterns, enhancing our understanding of the planet's environmental processes.