Mars is known as the Red Planet because oxidized iron colors much of its surface in dusty reds, ochers, browns, and tans. But newly released images of the planet's south polar region tell a different visual story, according to a report from Phys.org.
The images show swirls of pink, purple, and red across the area, including a feature that stands out in the unusual palette. While the exact cause of these colors is not detailed in the report, the contrast with the planet's typical rusty appearance is striking.
The finding serves as a reminder that even a well-studied planet can still offer surprising views, especially when looking at regions that are less familiar than the global rusty glow that gave Mars its nickname.