Mars seen by the Hubble Space Telescope - 2016 - Mars in opposition 2016 -...

Mars seen by the Hubble Space Telescope - 2016 - Mars in opposition 2016 - Image obtained on 12 May 2016 a few days before the opposition of Mars when the planet was only 80 million km away from Earth. This image shows planet Mars, as it was observed shortly before opposition in 2016, taken when the planet was 50 million miles from Earth on May 12, 2016. by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The photo reveals details as small as 20 miles to 30 miles across. This observation was made just a few days before March opposition on May 22, when the sun and Mars will be on exact opposite sides of Earth. Mars also will be 47.4 million miles from Earth. On May 30, Mars will be the closest it has been to Earth in 11 years, at a distance of 46.8 million miles. Some prominent features of the planet are clearly visible: the ancient and inactive shield volcano Syrtis Major; the bright and oval Hellas Planitia basin; the heavily eroded Arabia Terra in the centre of the image; the dark features of Sinus Sabaeous and Sinus Meridiani along the equator; and the small southern polar cap