Description:
Dust storm on Mars.
It is currently spring in the northern hemisphere of Mars, and Martian spring usually signals the arrival of dust storms. In this photograph of the Red Planet, striking brown dust streaks (top) "pollute" the white north polar ice cap, making it appear less spectacular than usual. This is currently an excellent opportunity to observe Mars because it is at "opposition," making it the closest planet to Earth in the year 2010. This sharp image shows a dust storm developing from a large dark area known as Mare Acidalium, located below the polar cap. It was captured on February 2, 2010, using the 1-meter aperture telescope at the Pic du Midi Observatory atop the French Pyrenees.
Appendix: Pic du Midi Observatory
The Pic du Midi Observatory is located at the summit of the famous French Pyrenees. The domes under the moonlight, the winter starry sky, and the distant peaks make the entire scene look like a dream. In the photograph, light from the La Mongie ski center can be seen illuminating the nearby mountains, while the glow from French and Spanish cities is visible on the distant horizon. In the upper part of the photo, slightly to the left of the center, Orion, Gemini, and Jupiter are visible. The three prominent domes from left to right are: a 60cm telescope dedicated to amateur astronomers, a 1-meter telescope that once supported the Apollo lunar landing missions, and a new solar observation telescope (CLIMSO).
NASA Websites:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100205.html
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