Nov 19 2009
The 45-image set was acquired 18 November 2009 during Mars Express orbit No. 7537, between 07:30-08:07 UTC (08:30-09:07 CET).
Mars disk: VMC image acquired 18 November 2009
The images were transmitted shortly afterwards to Earth, and were received between 10:29-10:38 UTC (11:29-11:38 CET) after a one-way travel time of 8 minutes, 41 seconds.
They were automatically posted onto the Mars Webcam dedicated website by 11:23 UTC (12:23 CET) - less than 4 hours after acquisition.
This set shows Mars in varying illumination conditions. Clouds and some surface features can be seen.
Access the full set in the VMC website, here: http://www.esa.int/vmc
About the Mars Webcam
The 'Mars Webcam' is not a scientific instrument, but it does provide fantastic images of Mars - including crescent views of the planet not obtainable from Earth.
The 'Mars Webcam' provides a visual connection to what we do here on ESA's operations teams every day of the year - it's a chance for us to share our passion for space!
VMC images are just simple photos gathered by one ordinary camera - but it's a camera mounted on a spacecraft orbiting one of the solar system's most exciting planets, millions of km from home!