Map of Mars. The first accurate telescope observations of Mars were made in 1877 and 1881 when Mars was at its closest to Earth (a situation called an opposition). The map (north at bottom) shows the dark and light areas thought to be seas and continents, but now known to be highlands (dark) and lowlands (light). The map features are named for famous astronomers. From 'Popular Astronomy' by Camille Flammarion (1880).

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Size: 4108px × 2560px
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Photo credit: © COLLECTION ABECASIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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