A massive 12-mile-tall volcano on Mars has been captured in a breathtaking image by NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter. Arsia Mons, the largest of three volcanoes in the Tharsis region, broke through clouds at dawn on June 6, 2025, offering a rare glimpse into its peak. Standing nearly twice as high as Earth’s Mauna Loa, Arsia Mons is surrounded by thick clouds that form when air cools rapidly after being blown up the volcano’s sides.
The cloud cover makes Arsia Mons difficult to photograph, but the new image provides a unique perspective on the volcano. Unlike other Martian regions, which feature dust storms made of carbon dioxide clouds, the clouds surrounding this volcano are composed of water ice, which remains in Mars’ atmosphere throughout the year. Studying these cloud formations helps scientists better understand how storms form and occur on the Red Planet.
Located near the equator in Mars’ western hemisphere, Arsia Mons is part of a trio called the Tharsis Montes. The alignment of these volcanoes suggests that a large fracture may have been responsible for their eruptions. This new image from NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter marks a significant milestone in understanding this unique Martian volcano.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/12-mile-tall-volcano-on-mars-punches-through-clouds-space-photo-of-the-day-for-june-10-2025