Arsia Mons, one of Mars' largest volcanoes, pokes out of the clouds just after dawn. On June 6, 2025, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter captured this stunning image of the volcano breaking through the clouds. Arsia Mons is part of the Tharsis volcanoes, a trio aligned on Mars' surface.

What is Arsia Mons?

Standing at over 12 miles tall with a diameter of 270 miles, Arsia Mons is nearly twice as high as Earth's largest volcano, Mauna Loa. The volcano is often covered by clouds that form due to rapidly cooling air blown up its sides, especially during aphelion when Mars is farthest from the sun. These clouds are known as the aphelion cloud belt.

Where is Arsia Mons?

Arsia Mons is the southernmost volcano in the Tharsis Montes, located in Mars' western hemisphere near its equator. The alignment of the Tharsis volcanoes suggests a large fracture may have been responsible for their eruptions. Olympus Mons, the solar system's largest volcano, stands to the northwest of Arsia Mons.

Why is Arsia Mons amazing?

The cloud cover over Arsia Mons has made it challenging to photograph, but NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter captured a unique image of the volcano's peak. This is the first time any of the Tharsis volcanoes has been seen on the horizon, offering a perspective similar to what astronauts see from the International Space Station. The clouds around Arsia Mons are made of water ice, unlike other regions of Mars which have carbon dioxide clouds. Studying these cloud formations helps experts understand storm formation on the Red Planet.

For more information on Martian volcanoes and cloud storms, scientists continue to explore the features of our planetary neighbor.