Hubble telescope zeroes in on Mars

WASHINGTON (AFP) Aug 27, 2003
The Hubble space telescope trained on Mars to capture the best images yet of the Red Planet, which on Wednesday came its closest to Earth in 60,000 years.

Astronomers awaited photographs revealing characteristics of the Martian surface larger than five kilometers (three miles). That's comparable to the resolution of the Mars Global Surveyor currently orbiting Mars, said astronomer Jim Bell, who led the effort.

"In that way, Hubble is like a NASA mission to Mars," Bell said from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The Hubble's 600 kilometers (375 miles) orbit places it beyond the distortions of Earth atmosphere.

Ultraviolet spectroscopy of the surface will reveal the composition of the Mars surface and of the atmospheric ozone, yielding clues as to the presence of water vapor.

The observations will reveal the planet's dusty surface, the size of the particles, their form and possible composition.

Results will be compared with previous observations.

SPACE.WIRE