Mars is really disappointing when compared to the Mars we've seen in movies. Thanks to Hollywood my perception of Mars is permanently inaccurate and exaggerated. I thought it would be a lot more... red... and out-of-this-world like.
Honestly, it looks like Namibia, Africa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAC_Namibia-escarpment2.jp.... It looks so realistic and dare I say it, "down to earth". On one hand it feels touchable and visitable and on the other hand, boring and visually uninspiring.
Most of the Solar System tends to be dull in color; most publicity photos from NASA are significantly enhanced in the color department. The red of Mars or blue of Neptune are real, but a lot more like #AA8888 than #FF0000. Water ice and silicon-based rock are both predominantly gray, so you need a considerable presence of some other elements to deviate significantly from that. Even Jupiter's atmospheric bands and Great Red Spot are mostly dull browns, and pretty much everything else with an atmosphere is considerably grayer and blander than most photos lead you to think. Here's a few examples of the Solar System in real color:
It doesn't really surprise me. I mean, when I go to the beach, the oceans are sort of gently blue-ish. But when you look at the space photos, it looks like sapphire.
Honestly, it looks like Namibia, Africa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SAC_Namibia-escarpment2.jp.... It looks so realistic and dare I say it, "down to earth". On one hand it feels touchable and visitable and on the other hand, boring and visually uninspiring.