The abyss

Mars Express: New images reveal the depths of the red planet's largest canyon

by Jennifer Walter
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Mars is a planet of extremes.

Not only does it have the tallest known volcano in the Solar System, but it also has the deepest canyon — plunging miles further than any cavern on Earth.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State University

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

This week, the European Space Agency released new images of one of the deepest regions on the planet from its Mars Express orbiter.

Shutterstock

Mars Express has been circling the red planet since 2003.

The mission’s main objective is to search for signs of water beneath the surface of Mars by mapping its atmosphere and terrain.

Recently, Mars Express imaged a slice of the red planet’s deepest canyon, Valles Marineris.

The gigantic region is almost 10 times longer and five times deeper than the Grand Canyon on Earth.

NASA

MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

It’s also a spot that researchers think may have once been filled with flowing water.

And recent observations show it could potentially have ice frozen below the ground today.

Within the canyon, Mars Express specifically looked at this slice of the canyon, which contains the Tithonium and Ius Chasmata.

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

Here are four new views of the red planet’s depths:

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

4. From the sky, the Ius (top) and Tithonium Chasmata are seen carved into Mars’ surface.

3. This view from the inside of the Tithonium Chasma shows what the landscape would look like to the human eye since Mars Express captures images in true color.

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

Here’s where the previous image is located — in the dark dunes region (upper left) of this map.

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

2. The section of the Tithonium Chasma recently surveyed reaches depths of over 2000 meters (1.2 miles), though there are other regions that reach up to 7 miles deep.

1. A relatively recent landslide took place on the side of this mound inside the Tithonium Chasma, as evidenced by parallel lines and a collapsed section to the right.

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

The location of the previous image stretches between mound 1 and the landslide boxes in this map.

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

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