The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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This map, by the OMEGA instrument on ESA’s Mars Express, plots the distribution of ferric oxides, a mineral phase of iron, across the surface of Mars. Ferric oxides (an oxide of iron) are present everywhere on the planet: within the bulk crust, lava outflows and the dust oxidised by chemical reactions with the martian atmosphere. Mars’ atmosphere contains both carbon dioxide and water, both of which provide a source of oxygen to react with the iron in the surface.
The intensity in colour from blue to red represents the degree of oxidation of the surface from low to high, and therefore is related to the abundance of iron-bearing minerals.
This map was released on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the launch of Mars Express, along with global maps of hydrated minerals, olivine, pyroxene and dust. Click to access the required image.