A closer look at “APOD: Mars' Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud Explained by ESA's Mars Express”, exactly as the source publishes it. The Astronomy Picture of the Day for November 2, 2026, features a striking image of an unusually long cloud stretching across the Martian landscape near Arsia Mons, a massive shield volcano. Captured by the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, the cloud extends for roughly 1,500 kilometers, Captured by the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, the cloud extends for roughly 1,500 kilometers, making it one of the longest orographic clouds observed on the Red Planet.
The phenomenon, known as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud, forms when winds are forced upward by the volcano's slope, causing water ice to condense in the cold upper atmosphere. This recurring weather pattern typically appears during the southern solstice, when Mars is farther from the Sun and atmospheric conditions are just right. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.