Space in Motion: Watch Gorgeous GIFs of Mars Sunset, Spinning Giant Asteroid

Two of this week's most intriguing views of space combine NASA images into animated form.

NASA spacecraft recently beamed back stunning images that, when combined, bring to life two neighboring alien worlds. While Mars delights us with a surprising blue sky, Ceres continues to perplex us with its bizarre bright blotches.

This stunning view of the sun setting over the rim of Gale crater on Mars was captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover on April 15. This was the 956th Martian day the rover has spent exploring the red planet.

Why does the sun look so small? Mars is farther from the sun than Earth is, making the sun appear only about two-thirds as big as it is from our planet.  

You may notice the blue-tinged colors of the sunset sky in the animation—this looks similar to what

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