NASA’s Mars Odyssey Captures Rare Cloudy Summit View of Arsia Mons

SCIENCE

By Aniket Chakraborty June 11, 2025 Arrow Image Credit | @NASAJPL | X

The image shows the 12-mile-high volcano rising through early morning water ice clouds.

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This is the first time a Martian volcano has been seen at the planet’s edge—like ISS views of Earth.

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Odyssey rotated 90 degrees in orbit to capture this rare view, marking its fourth horizon image.

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Arsia Mons is part of Tharsis Montes and twice as tall as Hawaii’s Mauna Loa.

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The summit cuts through Mars’ aphelion cloud belt, a seasonal band of equatorial ice clouds.

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These clouds form as winds rise and cool over the massive volcano’s slopes.

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Odyssey’s THEMIS camera uses infrared to detect subsurface water ice and monitor Martian moons.

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The images are helping scientists track seasonal shifts in Mars’ atmosphere and cloud behavior.

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More than a photo, this is a weather insight, a volcanic marvel, and a glimpse into future Mars landings.

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