Mars Rising Behind Elephant Rock . ... Mars , noticeably red, remains the brightest object in the eastern sky just after sunset. The best views of Mars, however, will continue to be from the robot spacecraft currently orbiting Mars: the Mars Global Surveyor and the Mars Odyssey . ... Pictured above , Mars was photographed rising in the southeast behind Elephant Rock in the Valley of Fire State Park , Nevada , USA . ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...