Mars Express HRSC image of Ascraeus Mons surrounded by afternoon clouds of the "aphelion cloud belt". The aphelion cloud belt is a seasona phenomenon that occurs during the northern hemisphere summer, when Mars is furthest from the Sun. During this season, the weather conditions are ideal for the formation of thick clouds over the high-altitude Tharsis region every afternoon. The peak of Ascraeus Mons pokes through the clouds because its stands 15 km over the surrounding surface. This altitude is largely above the thin Martian atmosphere.

This picture was constructed using green and nadir channel images, as well as synthetic blue and red images to simulate a natural color view. This image was taken on Mars Express' 16,530th orbit of Mars, on April 2, 2016.