On todays date, 40 years ago (and a scant 7 years after we landed a man on the moon) the Viking 2 probe successfully landed on the surface of the planet Mars.

It followed closely on the heels of the Viking 1 lander by some 45 days.

Considering the math and physics required to even begin to comprehend the enormity of the undertaking , the fact of a double success in our first tries is astonishing.

The idea that these images are from another world tends to send me into a profound state of awe.

I would volunteer to go there in a heartbeat…

All images found here.