Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
North is up and the sun illuminates the scene from the lower right.
Bright clouds hover near the northern most dome-shaped volcano Hecates Tholus . The shield volcano Elysium Mons lies about 250 miles south near the image center, and further south lies another dome-shaped volcano, Albor Tholus , with a broad summit basin or caldera . Even though Mars is just half the size of planet Earth, it is known for its volcanos - the largest of which dwarf their terrestrial counterparts . Specific rights apply .