ESA's Mars Express Shares Stunning Photo of Christmas Craterscape in Mars

Christmas is a widely observed holiday around the globe. Still, for unexplained reasons, Mars, our neighbor in the Solar System, has chosen to join us by displaying a "Christmas Craterscape" show. The European Space Agency's Mars Express photographed this seasonal phenomenon on Mars, which is now being shared to wish everyone a happy occasion.

ESA Mars Express Captures 'Christmas Craterscape' on Red Planet

The "Christmas Craterscape," which shows its topography in rusty red and white tones, is the newest discovery made by Mars Express, according to a photograph made public by the European Space Agency. The agency's finding could not come at a better moment, especially since it coincides with global holiday celebrations, is currently in the latter days of the year 2022, and is, of course, perfectly on schedule for Christmas.

This event concludes the year for Mars and the Mars Express mission. It shows a distinctive feature of the Red Planet in the Ultimi Scopuli area, which is close to Mars' south pole.

However, unlike Earth, where snowfall and the cold season have just begun, Mars' south pole and this discovery indicate that spring has arrived and the ice formations are beginning to melt. The ESA has just released this photograph on May 19 of this year.

According to CNET, the Mars Express just released the "Christmas Craterscape," which shows two huge craters on the planet resembling a ribbon. The "polar layered deposits" depict a ridge that connects the two craters and contains water and ice sediments to assist and provide a contrast to the reddish Martian surroundings.

ALSO READ: NASA's Orbiter Discovered Mysterious Shapes Inside Martian Craters: Are These Signs of Ancient Life on Mars?

Martian Study

Along with NASA, the European Space Agency has been exploring Mars since December 2023, over 20 years after it arrived in its vicinity. Since then, the orbiter has made several discoveries on the Red Planet, the most recent of which is a map of the planet's ancient water system (per Daily Mail).

These orbiters are designed to gather information on the planet that is next nearest to us and one that humanity may one day visit or call home.

Science Alert said the recent sighting of a Martian moon eclipsing its neighbor, Jupiter, is only one of the numerous discoveries that other cosmic occurrences may also be observed from Mars. It was one of the rarest occurrences in space since Deimos on Mars, Jupiter, and its four Galilean moons were all participating.

Numerous discoveries await not just NASA's missions but also ESA's Mars Express from both within and outside Mars. What a fantastic moment to be living since all the discoveries are readily available to the general public, including one that coincides with the Christmas season to wish humanity back home a Merry Christmas.