Planetary Picture of the Day
Week of Feb 9, 2023
A weekly recap of our Planetary Picture of the Day (PPOD)! Mars, its moon Phobos, Comet ZTF, and amazing sites right here on Earth.
Monday, Jan 29
Credit Emirates Mars mission/EXI/Thomas Thomopoulos
Tharsis Montes
Olympus Mons and the other Tharsis volcanoes on Mars as captured by the UAE's Hope mission. Tharsis Montes is the largest volcanic region on Mars. It is approximately 4,000 km across,10 km high, and contains 12 large volcanoes. The largest volcanoes in the Tharsis region are 4 shield volcanoes named Ascraeus Mons, Pavonis Mons, Arsia Mons (row of three, left to right), and Olympus Mons (foreground).
Tuesday, January 30
Credit Emirates Mars mission/EXI/Thomas Thomopoulos
Pengiuns on Blue Ice
This is a colorised image/data processed from ESA's MarsExpress of Mars' innermost and largest moon, Phobos. The visible crater on top should be Peridier. Phobos is getting closer to Mars by about 2cm per year and could impact the surface or break up into a small planetary ring in 30 to 50 million years. You can download the full size version here: https://buff.ly/3JuzNqC
Wednesday, January 31
Credit Credit: ESA/DLR/FUBerlin/AndreaLuck
Phobos Over Mars
This is a colorised image/data processed from ESA's MarsExpress of Mars' innermost and largest moon, Phobos. The visible crater on top should be Peridier. Phobos is getting closer to Mars by about 2cm per year and could impact the surface or break up into a small planetary ring in 30 to 50 million years. You can download the full size version here: https://buff.ly/3JuzNqC
Thursday, February 1
Credit Dario Giannobile
Comet ZTF Over Snowy Mount Etna
Today, we are fortunate to be able to witness the spectacle of comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) which is transiting near the celestial north pole. It is not easy to admire it, but just by equipping yourself with binoculars and a little patience you will be able to make out the glow of its nucleus and tail. Photographer Dario Giannobile took advantage of a clear night to capture the spectacle above the snow capped volcanic peak of Italy's Mount Etna.
Friday, February 2
Credit Robert Owczarek (2020)
Baobab Alley, Madagascar
The Avenue of the Baobabs, or Alley of the Baobabs, is a prominent group of Grandidier's baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri) lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region.
