Many thanks! I was confused because they said the hill is located inside a crater, which seemed to rule out a long, long photo from the horizon of the planet. And it still looks like we’re looking up towards the summit. Could even the best satellite get a photo looking *upwards* at the Washington Monument?
I truly enjoy all your civilization posts.
The next-gen probes will be even better. :’)
NASA eyes ion engines for Mars orbiter launching in 2022
http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/03/03/nasa-eyes-ion-engines-for-mars-orbiter-launching-in-2022/
Of the planets besides Earth, Mars has the best prospect for human settlements (with some major provisos of course).
OTOH, the Earth could easily support twice the current population via the refoliation of the Sahara, and connecting the Qattara Depression with the Mediterranean would reduce sea level a scosh, and produce a coooler, wetter climate in Saharan Africa.
Vigilanteman discusses Qattara Depression (Why melting polar ice is not a threat)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1787143/posts?page=11#11
“About 19,605 km2 of the Qattara Depresssion is below sea level,”
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/169468/
7,570 sq mi, avg depth -200 ft
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qattara_Depression