Planetary Picture of the Day
Week of March 11, 2024
This week, enjoy some love Earth photography, as well as a crater on Mars and the detailed surface of Europa.
Monday, March 11, 2024
Owens Valley Radio Observatory
Ross Stone captured this view of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory east of the Sierra Nevada, California, on January 25. Ross wrote: "The full moon setting behind the Sierra Nevada and a Caltech radio telescope."
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Crater!
The 1.5 km wide Meridiani Planum Crater on Mars is located on the Meridiani Planum (plain), two degrees south of Mars's equator. Taken by the HiRISE camera onboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Mount Fuji
The highest peak in Japan, Mount Fuji, is one of the nation’s most striking symbols. Astronauts need oblique views and low sun angles to get a strong sense of three dimensions when they take photographs from the International Space Station. The low afternoon sun emphasizes the conical shape of Japan’s most famous volcano. Other details enhance the sense of topography in the image, including numerous gullies in the flanks, as well as shadows cast in the summit- and side crater (Hoei).
This photo was acquired on February 8, 2016, with a Nikon D4 digital camera using an 1150 millimeter lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 46 crew.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Moon and Sun Over Wyoming
The Moon is seen passing in front of the Sun at the point of the maximum of the partial solar eclipse near Banner, Wyoming on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the contiguous United States from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of South America, Africa, and Europe.
Friday, March 15, 2024
Europa Surface in Detail
This photo taken by NASA's Juno spacecraft reveals details of the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. The jigsaw puzzle-like surface betrays tectonic movements linked to the presence of an interior ocean. Europa is one of the highest-priority worlds to find life beyond Earth.
