Image of Mars, taken from Earth

British astrophotographer Damian Peach of Selsey, Sussex, made this image of Mars on 30 October 2020 using a one-metre telescope in Chile by remote access. It is one of the most detailed views of Mars ever taken from Earth and approaches the level of detail seen in images made with the Hubble Space Telescope. The area shown is Solis Lacus, with the canyon of Valles Marineris visible as a linear feature below it in the centre of the picture. The three lumps at the lower right are the summits of giant volcanoes. South is at the top, as seen in amateur telescopes, and the south polar cap is at the top of the view. Pale blue cirrus clouds are visible around the rim of the planet.