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Phoenix Twilight

This artist's rendering shows a possible fate for the Phoenix Mars Lander.

As winter envelopes the Red Planet, the lander begins to shut down operations. Mars' far northern latitudes experience no sunlight in winter. Because the lander will no longer be able charge the batteries on the solar panels that power it, the mission will come to an abrupt end. During Mars' harsh winter, the frost covering the region as the atmosphere cools will bury the lander in ice.

Phoenix is scheduled to land on Mars' northern polar region on Sunday, May 25.