Graphic generated by Mars Express mission controllers at ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre, using Celestia.

NEVER look at the Sun using a standard telescope.

Credits: ESA

Graphic generated by Mars Express mission controllers at ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre, using Celestia.

Credits: ESA

Graphic generated by Mars Express mission controllers at ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre, using Celestia.

NEVER look at the Sun using a standard telescope.

Credits: ESA

Mike writes: "Here is an assembled mosaic of particularly hi-resolution images of the South Pole and Argyre Planitia.

The images were from the June 22, 2008 MEX VMC image sequence. To create the mosaic, each of the images was passed through the VMC utility made by Bernd Leitenberger to convert into a RGB PNG. Next, each of the images was stacked and aligned in Photoshop CS3. Each of the images was clipped about 4-pixels worth to remove funky color effects around the edges. In addition, two JPEGs of the images (#3 and #6) were also used to fill in blank areas remaining after processing – these JPEG black and white images were colorized to match the color of the PNG images. Exposure adjustment layers were used to adjust the layers to the top image (image #12) of the stack. The individual images were cleaned up using the spot healing tool and the clone stamp – in all cases the overlapping region of another image was used to determine the best way to apply the spot changes. A light unsharp mask was used to bring out detail in the top image. An orange tone photo filter was added to the entire image. Then, adjustment of levels, hue/saturation/levels and contrast curves were used to get the right color and exposure balance. Finally, the image was placed on a black background, rotated, and cropped."

Credits: ESA/Mike Malaska

Mike writes:

"Here is an image sequence of what I think is a cloud under changing lighting conditions at sunrise. To create this montage, I used Photoshop CS3. For each image, I used the floor of the crater near the terminator in image #5 as 'standard' and tried to adjust the exposure so that all the images in the sequence had the same level of exposure. The images were aligned, then cropped just enough to show some of the surface near the terminator. I added the date and time for the image in the sequence. All the frames have a 0.2-second delay, except the last frame (image 12) which has a 0.5-second delay before looping."

The files used to create the animated GIF are:
08_213_14_16_31_vmc_img_no_1.jpg
08_213_14_20_04_vmc_img_no_4.jpg
08_213_14_21_22_vmc_img_no_5.jpg
08_213_14_25_16_vmc_img_no_8.jpg
08_213_14_26_34_vmc_img_no_9.jpg
08_213_14_30_28_vmc_img_no_12.jpg

Credits: ESA, Mike Malaska

Ted writes:

"This image was generated based on file 08-212 11.01.00 VMC Img No 7_rgb. In addition, all (or at least the properly exposed portions) of

08-212 10.53.50 VMC Img No 1_rgb
08-212 10.54.45 VMC Img No 2_rgb
08-212 10.55.59 VMC Img No 3_rgb
08-212 10.58.31 VMC Img No 5_rgb
08-212 10.59.46 VMC Img No 6_rgb
08-212 11.02.16 VMC Img No 8_rgb
08-212 11.03.31 VMC Img No 9_rgb
08-212 11.04.47 VMC Img No 10_rgb
08-212 11.06.03 VMC Img No 11_rgb
08-212 11.07.17 VMC Img No 12_rgb
08-212 11.08.33 VMC Img No 13_rgb

were fitted and stacked over it. Doing this provided a way to reduce noise without destroying detail, although some noise removal was still necessary. Deconvolution and sharpening was then applied, as well as processing to remove the remaining noise."

Ian writes:

"The images were converted from RAW format to BMP using ImageJ, [I] sharpened the images individaully using wavelet adjustment in Registax (a wavelet correction of 10 in the 5:1 layer, and 30 in the 6:1), [and] then finally assembled the anaglyph in The GIMP (see this link for a tutorial)."

"For the animation, I used the sharpened images from above, and manually aligned them using the 'difference' layer function in the GIMP, then used the GIMP animation function on the aligned layers."

Image based on:
08-221 13.56.15 VMC Img No 1.raw
08-221 14.00.58 VMC Img No 5.raw
08-221 14.07.17 VMC Img No 10.raw
08-221 14.11.03 VMC Img No 13.raw