ESA - Mars Express VMC

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Mars Webcam

The VMC: An ordinary camera in an extraordinary place!

The Visual Monitoring Camera (VMC) is mounted on Mars Express, ESA's deep-space probe now orbiting the Red Planet. It originally provided simple, low-tech images of Beagle lander separation, and is now back in action as the 'Mars Webcam'. It's not a scientific instrument, but it does provide fantastic views of Mars - including crescent views of the planet not obtainable from Earth.

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Mars - and ESA's Mars Express - as seen from Earth

'Mars Webcam' offline for low-bit-rate season

8 December 2008 On 5 December 2008, Mars and Earth lined up on opposite sides of the Sun, forcing radio signals between the ground and the spacecraft to pass through the Sun's turbulent upper atmosphere. This marks the start of 'low-bit-rate season', and the Visual Monitoring Camera - the 'Mars Webcam' on board Mars Express - is now temporarily offline.

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Update from the VMC team

8 December 2008 Due to Mars conjunction and the continuing large distance between Earth and Mars, the VMC will be in hibernation from now until early 2009.

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More News

15 November 2008	VMC images - 2008-11-15_19.58-20.27

8 November 2008	VMC images - 2008-11-08_23.41-00.10

7 November 2008	VMC images - 2008-11-07_20.18-20.28

5 November 2008	VMC images - 2008-11-05_06.42-07.07

3 November 2008	VMC images - 2008-11-03_06.47-07.16

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