October 13, 1997
The Moon has changed phase thousands of times since the beginning of the cosmos, but only once did it shine on the night you arrived.
Ice Clouds over Mars
Birthday · October 13, 1997
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published October 13, 1997. Full image credits are on the original APOD entry below. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
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.