Surprising Discovery of Frost on Martian Volcanoes Near Equator

ESA missions discovered frost near Mars’s equator, a surprising find given the area’s typically higher temperatures.
This frost, appearing temporarily on the Tharsis volcanoes, suggests a unique microclimate and air circulation at high altitudes. The finding, facilitated by ESA’s orbiters ExoMars TGO and Mars Express, marks a significant step in understanding Martian atmospheric dynamics and could influence future exploration.

Frosty Volcanoes Discovered in Mars’ Tropics
For the first time, water frost has been spotted near Mars’s equator, by ESA’s ExoMars and Mars Express missions. This is a part of the planet where it was thought impossible for frost to exist.

The frost sits atop the Tharsis volcanoes: the tallest volcanoes not only on Mars but in the Solar System. It was first seen by ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), and later by both another instrument aboard TGO and ESA’s Mars Express.