Valles Marineris, a giant canyon system on Mars, dwarfs the Grand Canyon in the southwestern United States.
Recently published photographs from scientificHigh Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRISE) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) show stunning views of the rocks at Candor Chasma. Let us remind you that this is one of the largest canyons in the Mariner Valley.
The Mariner Valley stretches thousands of kilometers across the surface of Mars. Credit: NASA
Looking closely at HiRISE imagesjagged rocks protruding from wind-blown sand and dust are visible, as well as canal ravines. Perhaps they appeared due to the seasonal runoff of liquid water along the sloping slopes of the rocks. As with most high-resolution imaging systems, HiRISE sacrifices its field of view for a clear and detailed view of the planet.
Candor Chasma. Credit: Google Mars.
Collecting wide, large images andwhile simultaneously capturing amazingly high resolution close-ups, scientists gain a better understanding of the structure of Candor Chasma, Valles Marineris, as well as general geological processes and the deep history of Mars. Unlike the canyon in Arizona, the Mariner Valley was not formed by surface river erosion.
The HiRISE image of Candor Chasma shows layers of sediment on Mars. Credit: NASA / JPL / University of Arizona
CTX overview of a crater on Mars, Credit: NASA / JPL / Malin Space Science Systems
Read more
See how the moon appeared. Ancient planet crashed into Earth
Archaeologists have found an ancient burial in the Crimea. There was a "ticket" to the afterlife
Abortion and science: what will happen to the children who will give birth