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HI-RES TIFF (Size: 189 374 kb) | Valles Marineris,
seen at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface in near-true colour and
with four times vertical exaggeration. The image covers an area of 630
000 sq km with a ground resolution of 100 m per pixel.
The digital terrain model was created from 20 individual HRSC orbits,
and the colour data were generated from 12 orbit swaths.
The largest portion of the canyon, which spans right across the image,
is known as Melas Chasma. Candor Chasma is the connecting trough
immediately to the north, with the small trough Ophir Chasma beyond.
Hebes Chasma can be seen in the far top left of the image.
The image was first published in 2009 in the ESA science monograph Mars Express: The Scientific Investigations. Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum) |
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Valles Marineris cuenta con una extensión de más de 4000 km de largo por 200 de ancho, y alcanza una vertiginosa profundidad de 10 km, 10 veces más largo y cinco veces más profundo que el Gran Cañón del Colorado, lo que le convierte en el mayor cañón de nuestro Sistema Solar.
Esta inédita vista de pájaro de Valles Marineris fue
confeccionada a partir de los datos recogidos por la sonda Mars Express
de la ESA a lo largo de 20 órbitas. La imagen se muestra en falso color y
con la escala vertical realzada cuatro veces.
En esta imagen se puede apreciar una gran variedad de características
geológicas, resultado de la compleja historia de la región.
Es probable que la formación de este cañón esté directamente relacionada con la del abultamiento de Tharsis, que se encuentra fuera de plano, a la izquierda de esta imagen. En esa región es donde se encuentra Olympus Mons, el mayor volcán del Sistema Solar.
La actividad volcánica queda patente en la naturaleza de las rocas que
componen las paredes del cañón y en las llanuras adyacentes, fruto de
sucesivas coladas de lava.
A medida que la región de Tharsis se iba hinchando por la
acumulación de lava durante los primeros miles de millones de años del
planeta, la corteza circundante se fue estirando, resquebrajándose y
colapsando, dando lugar al impresionante sistema de fosas de Valles Marineris.
Los complejos patrones de fallas también son resultado de las imponentes
fuerzas de extensión a las que estuvo sometida la región. El más
reciente se puede observar claramente en la parte central de la imagen y
a lo largo de su borde inferior.
Los corrimientos de tierra también son responsables de que el cañón
tenga su aspecto actual, especialmente en las fosas situadas más al
norte, donde se pueden observar los derrumbes más recientes. La parte
superior de las laderas se erosionó a través del proceso de remoción de
masa.
Las sondas en órbita al Planeta Rojo, Mars Express entre ellas, han
recogido información mineralógica que indica que la región fue
remodelada por fuertes corrientes de agua hace cientos de millones de
años, aumentando la profundidad del cañón.
ESA
The Solar System’s grandest canyon
Earth’s Grand Canyon inspires awe for anyone who casts eyes upon the vast river-cut valley, but it would seem nothing more than a scratch next to the cavernous scar of Valles Marineris that marks the face of Mars.
Stretching over 4000 km long and 200 km wide, and with a dizzying depth of 10 km, it is some ten times longer and five times deeper than Earth’s Grand Canyon, a size that earns it the status of the largest canyon in the Solar System.
Seen here in new light and online for the first time, this bird’s-eye view of Valles Marineris was created from data captured during 20 individual orbits of ESA’s Mars Express. It is presented in near-true colour and with four times vertical exaggeration.
A wide variety of geological features can be seen, reflecting the complex geological history of the region.
The canyon’s formation is likely intimately linked with the formation of the neighbouring Tharsis bulge, which is out of shot and to the left of this image and home to the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons.
The volcanic activity is revealed by the nature of the rocks in the walls of the canyon and the surrounding plains, which were built by successive lava flows.
As the Tharsis bulge swelled with magma during the planet’s first billion years, the surrounding crust was stretched, ripping apart and eventually collapsing into the gigantic troughs of Valles Marineris.
Intricate fault patterns have also developed due to the imposing extensional forces; the most recent are particularly evident in the middle portion of the image and along the lower boundary of the frame.
Landslides have also played a role in shaping the scene, especially in the northern-most troughs, where material has recently slumped down the steep walls. Mass wasting has also created delicate erosion of the highest part of the walls.
Strong water flows may have reshaped Valles Marineris after it was formed, deepening the canyon. Mineralogical information collected by orbiting spacecraft, including Mars Express, shows that the terrain here was altered by water hundreds of millions of years ago.
ESA
The Solar System’s grandest canyon
Earth’s Grand Canyon inspires awe for anyone who casts eyes upon the vast river-cut valley, but it would seem nothing more than a scratch next to the cavernous scar of Valles Marineris that marks the face of Mars.
Stretching over 4000 km long and 200 km wide, and with a dizzying depth of 10 km, it is some ten times longer and five times deeper than Earth’s Grand Canyon, a size that earns it the status of the largest canyon in the Solar System.
Seen here in new light and online for the first time, this bird’s-eye view of Valles Marineris was created from data captured during 20 individual orbits of ESA’s Mars Express. It is presented in near-true colour and with four times vertical exaggeration.
A wide variety of geological features can be seen, reflecting the complex geological history of the region.
The canyon’s formation is likely intimately linked with the formation of the neighbouring Tharsis bulge, which is out of shot and to the left of this image and home to the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons.
The volcanic activity is revealed by the nature of the rocks in the walls of the canyon and the surrounding plains, which were built by successive lava flows.
As the Tharsis bulge swelled with magma during the planet’s first billion years, the surrounding crust was stretched, ripping apart and eventually collapsing into the gigantic troughs of Valles Marineris.
Intricate fault patterns have also developed due to the imposing extensional forces; the most recent are particularly evident in the middle portion of the image and along the lower boundary of the frame.
Landslides have also played a role in shaping the scene, especially in the northern-most troughs, where material has recently slumped down the steep walls. Mass wasting has also created delicate erosion of the highest part of the walls.
Strong water flows may have reshaped Valles Marineris after it was formed, deepening the canyon. Mineralogical information collected by orbiting spacecraft, including Mars Express, shows that the terrain here was altered by water hundreds of millions of years ago.
ESA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
ayabaca@gmail.com
ayabaca@hotmail.com.
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