[Aristotelian]

Icy, Patterned Ground on Mars

This image shows a polygonal pattern in the ground near NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, similar in appearance to icy ground in the arctic regions of Earth.

Phoenix Opens Its Eyes

This image, one of the first captured by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars. The flat landscape is strewn with tiny pebbles and shows polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal freezing and thawing of surface ice.

The Ground Beneath Phoenix's Feet

This view of a portion of the spacecraft deck and one of the footpads of NASA's three-legged Phoenix Mars Lander shows a solid surface at the spacecraft's landing site. As the legs touched down on the surface of Mars, they kicked up some loose material on top of the footpad, but overall, the surface is unperturbed.

Each footpad is about the size of a large dinner plate, measuring 11.5 inches from rim to rim. The base of the footpad is shaped like the bottom of a shallow bowl to provide stability.

This image was taken by the Phoenix spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager shortly after landing on Mars.

Solar Power Grid

Shown here is one of the first images taken by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander of one of the octagonal solar panels, which opened like two handheld, collapsible fans on either side of the spacecraft. Beyond this view is a small slice of the north polar terrain of Mars.

The successfully deployed solar panels are critical to the success of the 90-day mission, as they are the spacecraft's only means of replenishing its power. Even before these images reached Earth, power readings from the spacecraft indicated to engineers that the solar panels were already at work recharging the spacecraft's batteries.

Before deploying the Surface Stereo Imager to take these images, the lander waited about 15 minutes for the dust to settle.

Phoenix's New Neighborhood

The center of the red circle on this map shows where NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander eased down to the surface of Mars, at approximately 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. Before Phoenix landed, engineers had predicted it would land within the blue ellipse.

Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis.

The map shows a color-coded interpretation of geomorphic units -- categories based on the surface textures and contours. The geomorphic mapping is overlaid on a shaded relief map based on data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter.

[Caipirabob]

Very cool! Thanks! Calling my kids in the see the pics.

[Red_Devil 232]

This is great stuff!

I am glad "the surface is unperturbed". It would not be good to have it in an agitated state. LOL

[MARKUSPRIME]

USA forever!

[TomGuy]

[GulfWar1Vet]

Awesome pics.

Congrats NASA

[Liberty Valance]

Mars bump

[saganite]

Great news! Looking forward to the announcement they’ve found water.

[tlj18]

Whoa! They almost landed outside the landing ellipse. Probably because the parachute opened later than expected?

[mewzilla]

Note to NASA: Bravo!!

Just don't forget to thank American taxpayers :)

[samtheman]

It appears the old adage is still true:

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids.

[samtheman]

Has anyone considered how this latest Mars landing may have affected the polar bears? Has Al Gore weighed in on this question?

[SampleMan]

68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude.

Why does east longitude go beyond 180 degrees?

[Kolb]

Nice pictures! Last night they broadcast the landing live on the Science Channel from the control room. Very exciting!

[MARKUSPRIME]

You guys should read some of the Have your say comments over on BBC about this. They range from foaming at the mouth anti-US rants and hatred,to but we helped with the ESA(which they did’nt).Seems the euros are envious self loathing Anti-US worms. Done with them for good..

[Dilbert56]

Hopefully Phoenix can find the SUVs that are causing Mars’ global warming.

[kidd]

Very cool pictures.

And it is appears as a pristine wilderness that shouldn’t be spoiled by oil exploration /sarc

[norton]

Great, and I left NASCAR to watch, but still have to give a big nod to the little rover guys that just keep plugging on and on and on...I halfway expected Phoenix’ fist photo to include a one rover welcoming committee.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I have an unusual, novel idea:

Instead of exploring for ice and what it may or may not contain on this uninhabitable planet Mars, why don’t we take my tax money and explore for oil and gas in the United States?

What brought this novel idea of mine to the fore, is that Mars looks exactly like ANWR.

[Noumenon]

Someone alret Dr. Hoagland. Those polygons are obviously proof of an ancient Martian freeway. Or a convenience store. Or something.

[Oatka]

Thanks for the spectacular photos.

Funny thing is, I have the same view when looking out into my backyard in Arizona.

And, instead of hoping to see tire tracks or earth-type debris, I was hoping there would be a bare footprint or two.