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Posted By: Mona - Astronomy Mars brighter in 2018 than since 2003 - 04/24/18 10:04 AM
Deborah Byrd:
Quote
Remember Mars in 2003? That was the year the red planet came closer to Earth than it had been in some 60,000 years. Mars can be a bright planet. It can outshine most stars. But, in 2003, for a few months, Mars was exceedingly spectacular in our sky, outshining all the stars and planets except brilliant Venus. In 2018, Mars won’t be quite as bright as it was in 2003. But nearly!
Posted By: Mona - Astronomy Re: Mars brighter in 2018 than since 2003 - 04/27/18 07:03 PM
The European Space Agency (ESA) writes:

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has returned the first images of the Red Planet from its new orbit. The orbiter’s Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System, CaSSIS, took this stunning image, which features part of an impact crater, during the instrument’s test period. The camera was activated on 20 March and was tested for the start of its main mission on 28 April..

The image captures a 40 km-long segment of Korolev Crater located high in the northern hemisphere. The bright material on the rim of the crater is ice.[/quote]

Click on the image to enlarge it.
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