ESA News
http://www.esa.int

3 December 2003

Planet Mars from 5.5 million kilometres
[http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMN..._index_1.html]

This picture (copyright ESA) was taken on 1 December 2003 from ESA's Mars
Express spacecraft by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) under the
responsibility of the Principal Investigator Prof. Gerhard Neukum. It was
processed by the DLR Institute for Planetary Research, also involved in the
development of the camera, and by the Freie Universität Berlin.

This picture shows planet Mars as seen from a distance of about 5.5 million
kilometres. This is a very unusual view of Mars because the planet is
illuminated in a way never seen from Earth. The sun shines on part of the
western hemisphere, but more than a third of the Martian disc lies in the dark.
The dark features at the top are part of the northern lowlands of Mars, where
oceans possibly existed thousands of millions of years ago.

Credits: ESA

For further information please contact:

ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

Prof. Gerhard Neukum
Freie Universität Berlin
Department of Earth Sciences
Malterserstr. 74-100, Building D
D-12249 Berlin
Germany
Tel: +49 30-83870-579 (or -575)
Fax: +49 30-83870-188
email:

Related links

* Europe goes to Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html
* Mars Express mission facts
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...U55V9ED_0.html
* Beagle 2 lander homepage
http://www.beagle2.com

Related articles

* 'Europe lands on Mars' -- Media event at ESA/ESOC
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMBUGXLDMD_index_0.html
* Crucial moments on the way to Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...Z0UZJND_0.html
* Are you ready for Mars?
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMTERWLDMD_index_0.html