New Year, New Mars: Red Planet Gets Active as Spring Begins (Mars Report)

Mars scientists have recently marked a new year on the Red Planet, a milestone that occurs every 687 days. Because the Martian new year coincides with spring in the planet’s northern hemisphere, it’s a time of lots of activity — avalanches, exploding jets of gas, and more. JPL research scientist Serina Diniega explains some of the changes to the Martian surface that scientists can track with spacecraft like NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).

Circling the Red Planet since 2006, MRO carries a suite of science instruments that collect data on the planet’s surface and atmosphere. Among them is its HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera, which captured many of the detailed views seen here.

For more information on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, visit: science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter

Video credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech; north polar cap image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS; HiRISE images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona; erupting jets artist’s concept: ASU/Ron Miller. Stock footage provided by Pavel_dp/Pond5.