Image of the day: You Know the Day Destroys the Night

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander catches sunrise on the red planet on the morning of Aug. 25, 2008.

The sun did not set for much of Phoenix's mission during the peak of Martian summer above the Martian arctic circle. However, that period ended on the 86th Martian day after Phoenix's landing when the sun fully set behind a slight rise to the north for half an hour.

This image was taken at 51 minutes past midnight local time on Mars, during a slow sunrise that followed a brief 75 minute night. Light in the sky appears to scatter off atmospheric dust particles and ice crystals.

Phoenix will continue its examination of Mars through September, after getting a mission extension beyond its 90-sol (Martian day) duration.

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