2004 sees an international scientific assault on the planet Mars led by the British lander, Beagle 2, which touches down on Christmas Day 2003. The two US Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, will follow Beagle 2 to the surface on January 4th and 25th. Meanwhile Beagle's mothership, the European Space Agency's Mars Express, will join NASA's Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor in orbit around the red planet.

We wish all the missions and their teams of scientists every success in the New Year. You can follow their progress at the following websites: www.beagle2.com, marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov and www.esa.int/specials/mars_express. The approximate locations of the three landing sites are shown below, together with some of the most dramatic landscapes on Mars, in a selection of Planetary Visions' computer graphic views.

From left:
(1) Isidis Planitia (Beagle 2).
(2) Gusev crater (MER-A Spirit).
(3) Terra Meridiani (MER-B Opportunity).
(4) Valles Marineris, the 6km-deep valley network. Simulated view from orbit based on Viking Orbiter imagery and terrain data.
(5) Melas Chasma, viewed from the south rim, based on Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter data.
(6) Olympus Mons, the Solar System's largest volcano, towers 27km above the surface of Mars. Simulated panoramic view from an altitude of 2,000 metres, based on Viking and Mars Global Surveyor data.

Planetary Visions offers high-quality texturemaps and terrain models for 3D graphics use, based on the latest planetary probe missions. Global Mars coverage extends down to 250 metres for imagery and 500 metres for digital terrain. Similar views of Mars and other planets are available from our Animation Library and Digital Image Collections, and from our stock photo agents, the Science Photo Library.

For further information, contact Andrew Wayne on +44 (0)20 7679 2093