Explanation:
In this
sweeping view, the 10 kilometer-wide crater
Heimdall lies on the
north polar plains
of Mars.
But the bright spot highlighted in the inset is
the Phoenix
lander parachuting toward the surface.
The amazing picture was captured on
May 25th by the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter.
Though the lander looks like it might be dropping straight
into Heimdall, it is really descending
about 20 kilometers in front of the crater,
in the foreground of the scene.
The orbiter was 760 kilometers away from Phoenix when
picture was taken, at an altitude of 310 kilometers.
Subsequently the orbiter's camera was also
able
to image the lander on the surface.
The parachute attached to the backshell and the heat shield were
identified in the image, scattered nearby.
Of course, the Phoenix lander itself is
now returning much
closer views of its landing site as
it prepares
to dig into the
Martian surface.
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