Why Is Hubble Taking Pictures Of Mars?

[rdunk]

An exclusive interview - to me, one of the most interesting things discussed in this video is a new image of Mars taken by Hubble that does show Mars in all of its glory. Dr. Jennifer Wiseman of NASA is interviewed, and she does very openly answer the question of "what is that blue tint around the edge" (of Mars") in the photo!! When Dr. Wiseman answers, she refers to it as "bluish-white wispy color" CLOUDS!!!!

Space.com

NASA's Dr. Jennifer Wiseman explains why capturing imagery of the Red Planet with the Hubble Space Telescope is still important, even with multiple missions studying it on the surface and from orbit. Mars is at opposition on May 22, 2016 and its closest approach to Earth occurs on May 30th.

http://www.space.com/32947-why-is-hubble-taking-pictures-of-mars-exclusive-interview-video.html

[funbox]

that bluish tint appeared when the Indians took pictures from their sat too. albeit they dropped in some of their own red in



funbox

[astr0144]

Nice Video,

Showing some good images of Mars as well as Jupiter and Saturn.

The  Bluish White color maybe as indicated by Funbox..

but it also reminds me of what seems like an atmosphere..

Do we get similar when seeing Earth from a distance only maybe Earth stands out more as it does have a major / larger atmosphere.

The Video images also show what seems like white cloud..

A older image of Mar such as this one does show a slight Blue tint around it but it does not seem to stand out as well as the video image..



The Images remind me of some of the early images by telescope we used to see of it maybe before the space probes. Only Hubble no doubt has much clearer images...

Its good to see Mars so close and it stands out in the sky at the moment along with Saturn...Good to see its rings with a small telescope at the moment..as the rings are in an ideal position.




https://uk.news.yahoo.com/saturn-dances-moon-tonight-see-131038579.html

An exclusive interview - to me, one of the most interesting things discussed in this video is a new image of Mars taken by Hubble that does show Mars in all of its glory. Dr. Jennifer Wiseman of NASA is interviewed, and she does very openly answer the question of "what is that blue tint around the edge" (of Mars") in the photo!! When Dr. Wiseman answers, she refers to it as "bluish-white wispy color" CLOUDS!!!!

[rdunk]

astr0144 said,

Showing some good images of Mars as well as Jupiter and Saturn.

The  Bluish White color maybe as indicated by Funbox..

but it also reminds me of what seems like an atmosphere..

Do we get similar when seeing Earth from a distance only maybe Earth stands out more as it does have a major / larger atmosphere.

The Video images also show what seems like white cloud..

A older image of Mar such as this one does show a slight Blue tint around it but it does not seem to stand out as well as the video image..


Clouds for sure!!!! NASA rep Dr. Wiseman very openly said in the video, "we see clouds around the whole planet"! She also said, "And we can see clouds surrounding an extinct volcano"!

So, doesn't that pretty much mean that we should know for sure that Mars does have some sort of atmosphere, and that atmosphere has white to blueish tinted clouds? We can see what we see, and that makes it pretty hard for NASA to deny the facts of this matter doesn't it.   

[astr0144]

I am contented / relieved that my comments may have referred to your own thoughts on it ! 

Its a while since I have given much thought about such things and one is never certain of past facts without trying to recheck..

what I mean Is I am not sure if I have seen any similar images that may show clouds in the past images that I have seen of Mars.. or are these new ones shown in the video now maybe new !...

IF so... then is it a case that for some reason they all of a sudden have released such images...

The thing with Mars if I recall.. it has high winds and dust storms..but one may think them as being reddish.. NOT White !

So maybe at the moment the White is something new !

Have they been hiding it over the years ...OR... have they or something... somehow recreated the atmosphere like we see in some of the Sci Fi Movies where Aliens or even man came up with a way to re boost the planets atmosphere / environment ...

It maybe that the blue Tint has been visible for some time but maybe not as much as shown in the video..

If you are others have more knowledge of such things or studied it in more detail or over more time...it will be interesting to consider their thoughts on it..

Lastly , I think that it has been said that Mars does / has always  have some atmosphere..but it maybe as to what degree..and one may question has it more recently increased based on what we have observed..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars

The atmosphere of Mars is the layer of gases surrounding Mars. It is composed mostly of carbon dioxide. The atmospheric pressure on the Martian surface averages 600 pascals (0.087 psi; 6.0 mbar), about 0.6% of Earth's mean sea level pressure of 101.3 kilopascals (14.69 psi; 1,013 mbar). It ranges from a low of 30 pascals (0.0044 psi; 0.30 mbar) on Olympus Mons's peak to over 1,155 pascals (0.1675 psi; 11.55 mbar) in the depths of Hellas Planitia. This pressure is well below the Armstrong limit for the unprotected human body. Mars's atmospheric mass of 25 teratonnes compares to Earth's 5148 teratonnes with a scale height of about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) versus Earth's 7 kilometres (4.3 mi).
The Martian atmosphere consists of approximately 96% carbon dioxide, 1.9% argon, 1.9% nitrogen, and traces of free oxygen, carbon monoxide, water and methane, among other gases,[1] for a mean molar mass of 43.34 g/mol.[2][3] There has been renewed interest in its composition since the detection of traces of methane in 2003[4][5] that may indicate life but may also be produced by a geochemical process, volcanic or hydrothermal activity.[6]

So, doesn't that pretty much mean that we should know for sure that Mars does have some sort of atmosphere, and that atmosphere has white to blueish tinted clouds? We can see what we see, and that makes it pretty hard for NASA to deny the facts of this matter doesn't it.   

[ArMaP]

CLOUDS!!!!

Why the surprise?

[Dyna]

Why the surprise?

yes why as far as clouds NASA has mentioned and shown them many times over the years.

[astr0144]

So I think you both have observed and maybe took more interest in Mars in the past as well as recall...to compare the images / video of the Clouds or bluish ting...and do not see any real variation between the date of the recent video images and past ones over a set time , say over the last 10 to 20 years..

I think I do recall clouds in some past images..but was not sure how they compared to the recent images..and I suspect maybe the same for RDunk..

Unless he believes different..and may be able to offer reasons why he referred to it..


Dyna

yes why as far as clouds NASA has mentioned and shown them many times over the years.

Why the surprise?

[Norval]

Why is Hubble taking pictures of Mars?

Because it can Rdunk, because it can.   



,, , sorry, just couldn't help myself.   

[rdunk]

Why is Hubble taking pictures of Mars?

Because it can Rdunk, because it can.   



,, , sorry, just couldn't help myself.   

  For sure!! But there are times when NASA does not let Hubble do its full thing with is capabilities - such as with the Moon~! Has NASA yet even allowed Hubble to view the Moon with its infrared capabilities?? And, as close as Hubble is to the Moon, shouldn't it be able to really get some good cleat pics??

Regarding Mars, yes NASA has finally opened up about clouds, but we have been seeing them in the various Orbiter and Rover photos for sometime, before the finally admitted it - kinda like the water that for sure wasn't there, but guess what, now it is there!! 

[Dyna]

http://mars.nasa.gov/MPF/science/clouds.html
http://mars.nasa.gov/MPF/ops/clouds_sunset.html
MOVIE OF CLOUDS ON MARS. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/UOFA

  2 Jul , 2009 by Nancy Atkinson
http://www.universetoday.com/33894/phoenix-lander-team-it-rains-at-night-on-mars/snow-clouds-2/
June 20, 2008
Clouds over crater
High ice cloud over Mars' limb.
http://archive.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/06/martian_skies.html


\year after year NASA has stuff about clouds on Mars.

[ArMaP]

Regarding Mars, yes NASA has finally opened up about clouds, but we have been seeing them in the various Orbiter and Rover photos for sometime, before the finally admitted it - kinda like the water that for sure wasn't there, but guess what, now it is there!! 

Why do you say that they "opened up about clouds"? Just because you didn't noticed it it doesn't mean they were not talking about them openly at least since the first Mars rover, Pathfinder, in 1997.

[rdunk]

Why do you say that they "opened up about clouds"? Just because you didn't noticed it it doesn't mean they were not talking about them openly at least since the first Mars rover, Pathfinder, in 1997.

This lady was far more open about the detail of the clouds than any other I have heard! But talking a little about clouds is one thing, but actually showing them is another. Isn't it rather a rare photo that actually shows the Mars clouds? I don't think I have seen a single cloud in all of the Mars orbiter photos I have reviewed. Have you?? Then, as I recall, we have only see a very few clouds in the many many Rover photos, and Z has posted them here several times. How is it that if there are considerable clouds on Mars, why are we not generally seeing them is these many thousands of Mars photos that "show the sky"?? Of course all of the Mars orbiter photos are taken "through the sky" - where are the clouds??

[ArMaP]

I have a book, part of a pocket-size encyclopaedia with several volumes, each one dedicated to a topic, that my father bought. The original was German, and the Portuguese version has a copyright notice from April 1965.

In the section about Mars it says: It's also visible, often, thin layers of clouds and fog, made probably of ice crystals, which dissolve during the day.

Isn't it rather a rare photo that actually shows the Mars clouds?

Yes, they are relatively rare, but not that much.

I don't think I have seen a single cloud in all of the Mars orbiter photos I have reviewed. Have you??

Yes, I have seen some, one of the orbiters (I don't remember which one) had/has a camera with several filters, and one of those (I think it was the orange filter) was chosen to make it easier to photograph the clouds.
I will look for more information about it.

How is it that if there are considerable clouds on Mars, why are we not generally seeing them is these many thousands of Mars photos that "show the sky"??

It may be a result of the places where the rovers landed, close to the equator. Phoenix landed close to the north pole and, if I'm not mistaken, got some photos with clouds (besides a few photos with what appears to be frost in one of the lander's legs).

Of course all of the Mars orbiter photos are taken "through the sky" - where are the clouds??

Most (if not all) of the orbiters are there to photograph the ground, so that's natural that they focus more on land features than on the clouds, but, as I said above, I think there was/is a specific mission to study Mars' atmosphere.
Also, I think it's easier to see thin clouds from below than from above.

[ArMaP]

Cloud photos from Mars.

Viking 1 Orbiter





Mars Global Surveyor



Mars Pathfinder






Opportunity




Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter


Phoenix


Mars Express