NASA Captures Rare Cloud-Covered Sunrise Over Mars' Tallest Volcanoes

Mars Odyssey Reveals Hidden Climate Patterns as Water-Ice Clouds Form Over Giant Volcanoes for the First Time

NASA has released a breathtaking image of Arsia Mons, a giant volcano on Mars with a misty layer of clouds, against a dawn backdrop. Captured on 2 May by Mars Odyssey, the unique profile-view opposes two rare opportunities to witness the thin upper atmosphere and the tallest volcanic peaks.

For the first time, Olympus Mons and Arsia Mons, two of the largest volcanoes in the solar system, appear together in remarkable detail.

Towering Giants of the Solar System

Arsia Mons stands at a towering 20 kilometers, making it twice the height of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, Earth's largest volcano by volume. Even the mighty Mount Everest, reaching just 8.8 kilometers above sea level, pales in comparison. Nearby is Olympus Mons, which rises even higher, over 21 kilometers, with a massive base nearly 600 kilometers wide, roughly the size of France.

Despite its enormous scale, the new atmospheric angle makes Olympus Mons appear like a gently sloping hill rather than a steep mountain, revealing how the volcano dominates the Martian horizon with subtlety.

A Volcanic Peak Above the Clouds

What separates this image from others is the sheer artistic drama it evokes. Now, water-ice clouds descended onto the summit of Arsia Mons, forming part of a seasonal weather pattern called the aphelion cloud belt, which develops when Mars is further from the Sun. The site under the green mist stage of the volcano-mountains scene is a fitting first in the record of Martian volcanics.

These clouds, rising by winds along the volcano's slopes and cooling rapidly in the course, showed how volcanic features entered into the formation of denser water ice clouds near the Martian equator during this period.

New Mission Perspective for Mars Odyssey

Since the beginning of its operation in 2001, Mars Odyssey has been focusing mainly on surface temperature and composition. But now, the camera on board, the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) instrument, has shifted its attention toward the horizon by tilting sideways in order to image the atmospheric layers. This ingenious change provides the scientists with new opportunities to study cloud formation, dust behavior, and seasonal atmospheric processes on Mars.

Unlocking Mars’ Weather Secrets

NASA scientists, including Michael D. Smith of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, are using these fresh horizon views to unlock new details and insights about how Mars' weather develops and shifts.

Observations such as this are proving vital for planning safe future missions and potential human landings. By analyzing how dust and water ice clouds interact with the planet’s tallest features, researchers gain insight into the evolution of Mars’ atmosphere.

Volcanoes as Climate Clues

Arsia Mons isn’t just a volcano—it’s a gateway to decoding the Red Planet’s changing climate. Its massive size affects local wind currents and cloud movement, essentially turning it into a natural laboratory in the Martian sky. Olympus Mons, with its colossal reach, further expands the scope of this atmospheric exploration.

A New Era in Martian Weather Observation

These panoramic views represent a major shift in how space missions observe planetary weather. Mars Odyssey’s ability to explore not just the surface but also the skies is transforming our understanding of Martian climate systems.

As the orbiter continues its mission, it opens a new window into the planet’s dynamic atmosphere, paving the way for deeper exploration and future human missions to Mars.