Mars Today
Mars Today shows where Mars is in relation to both the Earth and the sun today. Click on, Mars Today, and continue reading below for descriptions.
This image is provided by the , Center for Mars Exploration at NASA Ames Research Center where a full description can be found.
The upper left panel diagrams the current positions of Mars and Earth in their
orbits around the Sun from the perspective of an observer looking down on the
solar system. The panel also shows the interplanetary trajectory of the Mars
Global Surveyor.
The panel on the upper right compares the apparent size of the Martian disc as viewed from Earth with the size of Earth's disc as viewed from Mars. (Since the diameter of Mars is about half that of the Earth, Mars appears to be about half the size of the Earth when viewed from the same distance.) Both of these discs are compared to a circle 25 seconds of arc in diameter. This circle represents the largest possible apparent size of Mars as viewed from Earth (which is achieved only on those very rare occasions when the planets are both favorably positioned at the nearest points in their orbits).
The lower left hand panel displays a simulated image of Mars as it would appear at the present time to a very high resolution Earth-based telescope.
The lower right panel shows a model prediction of the meteorology at the present time (from the Ames Mars Climate Model). Daily average temperatures in the lower atmosphere are color-coded, while predicted wind speeds and directions are indicated by the arrows.
This QuickTime file, Mars animation, shows Mars' position and weather for the entire year 2000.
The image, Rotating Mars, shows pictures of Mars in sequence as it rotates on its axis.
