A new batch of sharp Martian close-ups from NASA's HiRISE camera
were released on Sept. 1. HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging
Science Experiment) has been circling Mars on the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter for four years now, taking dramatic
photos of the red planet with a telephoto lens to make any
paparazzi jealous. The camera can focus on objects the size of a
beach ball from more than 180 miles away. The 236 new images,
taken between July 8 and July 31, cover the planet practically
from pole to pole. They zoom in on terrain ranging from volcanic
cones to cratered planes, from wind-swept dunes to crusts of
ice. The images even capture evidence of ongoing geological
processes on Mars today, like fresh craters that may have formed
between January and June of this year. These are some of our
favorites from the new set. But since January, the HiRISE team
has been letting the public point the camera. You can suggest
new terrain to explore using their "HiWish" feature. Above:
These volcanic cones were formed by hot l