Posted on 10/22/2013 7:56:08 PM PDT by lbryce
There's a huge source of magnificent images of space, of Mars in particular, that are absolutely amazing but are not as readily seen by those of us here in the USA mostly because,
I think, the sources are not American in origin. I, myself am guilty of the same sort of attitude in choosing not to patronize space imagery sources unless they are those provided by NASA.
But as the stunning images of Mars provided below demonstrate, it is definitely something to reconsider.
I chose the following images at random from the nearly 12,000 images available from the European Space Agency's web site taken by the ESA Martian Orbiter, Mars Express. The ESA's archive
of space images contain many thousands taken of Mars by the Mars Express available to
search through at The European Space Agency Images Search
All About European Space Union's Mars Express
Title Hebes Chasma mesa Released 10/10/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
The details of the central mesa inside Hebes Chasma are seen in close-up detail in this perspective view. A horseshoe-shaped chunk has been taken out of one side of the mound (left in this image); the material has slumped down onto the floor of the valley below. A dark patch appears to pool like spilt ink across the debris. It is most likely loose material that has slid down the walls from an intermediate layer. Melted ice could have played a role by weakening the rocks to create its flow-like appearance.
Along the side of the mound fine horizontal layering is seen. The layers likely comprise a mix of wind-blown dust and ancient lake sediments, along with remnants of the older plateau.
Title Becquerel Crater Released 05/09/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
A striking scene in and around Becquerel crater – the largest crater in this view – reveals both the power of wind and water in the turbulent history of Mars. A mound of light-coloured sulphate deposits formed from evaporating water sits inside the crater amid a sea of dark wind-blown deposits. The darker material has blown towards the south-southwest (top left) of the image in a wide swath and across tiny craters there – their raised rims protect the material immediately downwind from being swept away.
The mosaic is composed of four images taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA’s Mars Express, with an average ground resolution of 17 m per pixel. The image centre lies at about 22°N/352°E; North is to the right. The individual images were taken on 22 July 2006 (orbit 3253), and 26 February, 2 and 7 March 2008, corresponding to orbits 5332, 5350, and 5368, respectively.
Title Becquerel Crater sulphate mound Released 05/09/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA Description
This detailed view of the approximately 1 km high mound inside Becquerel crater reveals its intricate layering. The layers are just a few metres thick each and are composed of sulphate-bearing minerals left behind after water has evaporated. Repeating patterns in the layers could reflect climatic changes that occurred as Mars evolved from a warm, wet world into a cold, dry planet some 3.5–3.8 billion years ago. The dark sediments were likely blown in from outside the crater, but local erosion of the mound may also have contributed to the supply of sediment.
Becquerel crater and its immediate surrounds were imaged during four orbits of Mars Express around the Red Planet: on 22 July 2006 (orbit 3253), and 26 February, 2 and 7 March 2008, corresponding to orbits 5332, 5350 and 5368, respectively. Becquerel crater lies within Arabia Terra, at about 22°N/352°E.
Title Tagus Valles colour view Released 01/08/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
In the ancient cratered southern highlands of Mars, the faint traces of a wet past are seen in the form of channels (lower centre), fluidised debris around craters (bottom right) and blocks of eroded sediments (top left). Volcanic activity may have deposited the fine dusting of dark material visible in the top left.
The image was taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA’s Mars Express on 15 January 2013 (orbit 11504), with a ground resolution of approximately 22 m per pixel. The image centre lies at about 4°S / 114°E, close to Tagus Valles in an unnamed region north of Hesperia Planum.
Title Perspective view of Olympus Mons flanks Released 04/07/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
Lava once flowed down the flanks of the Olympus Mons volcano, spilling out onto the surrounding plains. Here, the paths of numerous individual lava flows can be seen curving around natural obstacles and cascading like waterfalls over cliff edges.
Random pointed and flat-topped blocks protrude from the flank edges, rotated or uplifted as the sides of the volcano collapsed.
Only a few very faint traces of ancient lava channels can be seen in the surrounding plain, which was flooded by a later outpouring of lava.
The image was taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera onESA’s Mars Express on 21 January 2013 (orbit 11524), with a ground resolution of approximately 17 m per pixel. The image centre is located at approximately 14°N / 229°E. 
Title Olympus Mons SE flank Released 04/07/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
A portion of the southeastern flank of Olympus Mons as imaged by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA’s Mars Express on 21 January 2013 (orbit 11524), with a ground resolution of approximately 17 m per pixel. The image centre is located at approximately 14°N / 229°E. North is to the right.
The image highlights the stark contrast between the hundreds of narrow, individual lava flows on the flanks of the volcano, and the smooth lava plains that surround it.
iimg src="http://spaceinimages.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2013/05/sulci_gordii_close-up/12656908-4-eng-GB/Sulci_Gordii_close-up.jpg">
Title Sulci Gordii close-up Released 02/05/2013 11:00 am Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
This image focuses on a region on the western limb of Sulci Gordii (top centre-right on the corresponding main image). It shows clearly in the foreground the near-parallel characteristic of the ridges and valleys that define geological features called sulci. Close inspection of the ridges reveals dark streaks along their faces, evidence of numerous small landslides of rocky and dusty debris.
Sulci Gordii is an aureole deposit resulting from the dramatic collapse of the flank of Olympus Mons in its distant past.
The image was taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera onESA’s Mars Express on 23 January 2013 (orbit 11531), with a ground resolution of about 31 m per pixel. Sulci Gordii lies at approximately 17°N / 234°E, about 200 km east of Olympus Mons.
Title Perspective view of Orcus Patera Released 29/08/2010 4:57 pm Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
Orcus Patera is an enigmatic elliptical depression located between the volcanoes of Elysium Mons and Olympus Mons. This well-defined depression extends approximately 380 km by 140 km in a NNE–SSW direction. It has a rim that rises up to 1800 m above the surrounding plains, while the floor of the depression lies 400–600 m below the surroundings. The straight graben that cut across its rim are clearly seen in this image.
Title Perspective view of the Orcus Patera Released 29/08/2010 4:56 pm Copyright ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) Description
Orcus Patera is an enigmatic elliptical depression located between the volcanoes of Elysium Mons and Olympus Mons. This well-defined depression extends approximately 380 km by 140 km in a NNE–SSW direction. It has a rim that rises up to 1800 m above the surrounding plains, while the floor of the depression lies 400–600 m below the surroundings.
Very impressive.
Mars speaks for itself.
Why can’t we live near a planet with some people on it?
Somebody needs a class in using thumbnails with links. :)
And not a single flying saucer in sight.
Pictures are impressive. Conjecture about how it all occurred is pure foolishness. The scientists don’t have a clue. Don’t want to hear it.
The first colonists to land on Mars are supposed to arrive around 2022. It’s a one way trip.
There were Martians but they saw what humans were doing and left for a better neighborhood.
Caption: This NASA-Curiosity image was taken several hundred feet east of the initial “Bradbury Landing” site, as the rover was driving toward a region called, “Glenelg.” The image shows a remarkably symmetrical object, with another obvious “pipe” extending out of the center … towards the rover camera.
Mars? I thought that was out between Balmorhea and Pecos :)
And a lot of people are lining up to do I it.
It would be more impressive if a European had taken the photo after landing on Mars, or the Moon.
Nothing is as impressive as manned space flight.
But Obama canceled that.
I sort of figured this would be posted as an “Intergalactic Business Tip.”
That looks like the remains of an Imperial Probe Droid.
Wow. That little planet has been popped a whole lot of times by space debris.
Closer to the asteroid belt, might be why.
I used the words “Mars Express” in the search box and got this.
http://spaceinimages.esa.int/content/search?SearchText=mars+express&img=1&SearchButton=Go
Is that how you found them?
By the way that last picture, the one showing the canals, is really a smooth looking surface.
Lots of beach. No water. Looks like the wind blows a lot.
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