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Mars Pathfinder

A NASA mission that landed on Mars in July 1997 and deployed the Sojourner rover. It was designed to demonstrate a low-cost method for delivering scientific instruments to the Martian surface and to explore Mars' atmosphere, climate, geology, and composition.

Source: mars.nasa.gov

APODs including "Mars Pathfinder"

Ice Clouds over Mars

13/10/1997

Ice Clouds over Mars
Image Credit: NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

Mars has clouds too. The above true color image taken in August by Mars Pathfinder shows clouds of ice high in the Martian atmosphere. Unlike Earth's atmosphere which is composed predominantly of nitrogen and oxygen, Mars' atmosphere is composed mostly of carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, a trace amount of water does freeze into visible clouds at night, which become particularly apparent during the day by reflection of sunlight. Contact was lost with Mars Pathfinder last Sunday but re-established later in the week.