NASA captures image of a new crater on Mars

Also known as the Red Planet, Mars is dominated by a cold desert and, like Earth, has polar ice caps. It was at its South Pole that NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took pictures of a new crater (about 28 x 23 meters) caused by a meteorite. Researchers believe it emerged between July and September 2018.

The uniqueness of the image, however, lies in the visual result of this new crater. The meteorite punctured the ice cap and melted the mixture of frozen carbon dioxide and ice. The impact also hurled the red sand underneath, leaving a large reddish stain as a result:

The image was captured by High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, cameras from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, one of NASA's top missions around Mars. In orbit since 2005, the mission analyzes geographic aspects of the planet, and keeps an eye on the rovers and landers that are on the surface of the Red Planet.