Four decades of innovation have dramatically shaped our perceptions of Mars - from the first grainy images to 360-degree panoramas in color. TIME's photo editors roundup the awe-inspiring images from the most outstanding expeditions, including the Mars Curiosity rover.
A thin layer of frost can be seen on the martian surface at Utopia Planitia. The layer is thought to be only a couple thousandths of a centimeter thick. It is speculated that when it gets cold enough for carbon dioxide to solidify, some of it attaches to the dust and ice and it falls to the surface. Viking 2 sent this picture back on its mission, which spanned from 1975 to 1980.
Four decades of innovation have dramatically shaped our perceptions of Mars – from the first grainy images to 360-degree panoramas in color. TIME’s photo editors roundup the awe-inspiring images from the most outstanding expeditions, including the Mars Curiosity rover.
COVER STORY: What the Curiosity Rover Can Teach us about Mars — and Earth
MORE PHOTOS: An Inside Look at the Mars Curiosity Rover
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