Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Captures Images of Phoenix Lander's Descent | Popular Science
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Descent of the Phoenix Lander (PSP_008579_9020)
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
MRO's HiRISE camera acquired this dramatic oblique image of Phoenix descending on its parachute. Shown here is a a wider view of the full image, showing a 10 kilometer diameter crater informally called “Heimdall,” and an improved full-resolution image of the parachute and lander.
Although it appears that Phoenix is descending into the crater, it is actually about 20 kilometers in front of the crater. It is difficult to believe that it is in front of the crater because it is so much smaller, but in reality it is, and that's a good thing because landing on the steep rocky slopes of the crater would have been far too exciting (or risky).
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