Surface of Mars looks maroon… but it’s just NASA’s camera on the blink

Mars as you’ve never seen it before: Surface of the Red Planet looks maroon… but it’s just NASA’s camera on the blink

  • NASA’s Perseverance rover has taken a series of breathtaking pictures of the colourful surface of the Mars  
  • Rover, which landed last week, was the first to video its own landing and has taken more than 23,000 photos 
  • The unusual photographs were the result of the camera’s not yet having calibrated as it came in to land 

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Ever wondered what it would be like to get marooned on Mars? Well, these photos may provide a clue. 

They show the surface of the red planet taking on a rather strange hue. 

But while its maroon appearance is certainly out of this world, it is merely due to the cameras on Nasa’s Perseverance craft not yet having calibrated as it comes in to land. 

Perseverance last week became the first rover to video its own Mars landing and has taken more than 23,000 photos. 

Al Chen, of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said: ‘These videos and these images are the stuff of our dreams.’  

 New images from Mars shot by the NASA Perseverance rover have revealed the impressive colour of the red planet’s surface

The Mars Perseverance rover touched down on Mars for the first time this month and has been taking photographs of the plant

The Mars Perseverance rover touched down on Mars for the first time this month and has been taking photographs of the plant

Those who have always wondered what the surface of Mars looks like have had their questions answered with the latest pictures

Those who have always wondered what the surface of Mars looks like have had their questions answered with the latest pictures

Some of the new pictures have revealed the surface of the red planet taking on a rather strange hue

Some of the new pictures have revealed the surface of the red planet taking on a rather strange hue

Since coming in to land  last week the Perseverance rover has taken more than 23,000 photographs of the planet

Since coming in to land  last week the Perseverance rover has taken more than 23,000 photographs of the planet 

But while its maroon appearance is certainly out of this world, it is merely due to the cameras on Nasa’s Perseverance craft not yet having calibrated as it comes in to land

But while its maroon appearance is certainly out of this world, it is merely due to the cameras on Nasa’s Perseverance craft not yet having calibrated as it comes in to land

Al Chen, of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said: ‘These videos and these images are the stuff of our dreams.’

Al Chen, of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said: ‘These videos and these images are the stuff of our dreams.’

As well as picking up the unusual colour, the pictures provide an insight into what the planet's surface looks like

As well as picking up the unusual colour, the pictures provide an insight into what the planet’s surface looks like