Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Ice Clouds over a Red Planet

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for December 3, 2024 is “Ice Clouds over a Red Planet,” an image. It is credited to Image Credit: NASA , JPL-Caltech , Kevin M. Gill ; Processing: Rogelio Bernal Andreo. The original explanation runs about 142 words.

Ice clouds are seen over the surface of Mars on the upper right. Toward the lower left is a bright spot in the sky which is likely the Sun rising through Martian dust. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
Credit: Image Credit: NASA , JPL-Caltech , Kevin M. Gill ; Processing: Rogelio Bernal Andreo Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“If you could stand on Mars — what might you see? You might look out over a vast orange landscape covered with rocks under a dusty orange sky, with a blue-tinted Sun over the horizon, and odd-shaped water clouds hovering high overhead.”

— APOD editors, December 3, 2024

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
December 3, 2024
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit: NASA , JPL-Caltech , Kevin M. Gill ; Processing: Rogelio Bernal Andreo
Copyright
No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 142 words

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Source

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.