A newly-released color image from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft in orbit around the Red Planet shows the surface thawing in springtime. Beneath the frost some areas get warmer while others stay cold, causing frost to linger in parts and sublime away elsewhere. Dazzling, almost psychadelic patterns are the result. As NASA launched the 101st space shuttle flight on Thursday, we looked back to the past 20 years of blastoffs in a special gallery feature. For the latest spaceflight news and features visit our sister-site, Spaceflight Now .
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Subscriptions Subscribe to Astronomy Now and have Britain's best selling astronomy magazine delivered to your door every month. Subscribe now and save more than 10 percent off the newsstand price. The night sky Our night sky pages contain details of this month's celestial highlights.