The Deepest Known Canyon in the Solar System, Seen from Space
The worlds of the solar system beyond Earth have amazing surface features. Thanks to planetary science missions, we see images of canyons, craters and cliffs around the world. One day, these places will provide new challenges for mountaineers and climbers. In particular, Mars will be a favorite destination. Future climbers and mountaineers will be spoiled for choice, even if they have to put on a spacesuit to get their thrills.
For example, there is the canyon region of Valles Marineris. It is the largest known feature in the solar system, many times larger than Earth’s Grand Canyon. The European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter has just returned a stunning image of this gorge.
Pictures of Mars and Mars Express
The final view from the Mars Express focuses on two trenches—the so-called “chasma”—in western Valles Marineris. They are Ius Chasma and Tithonium Chasma, the deepest part of the canyon. The whole system looks complex and complicated. That’s because it was formed from tectonic activity, not the erosion process that created the Grand Canyon. Think of it like a crack in the crust. Probably formed when baby Mars cooled. The region is also affected by changes in the crust of the Tharsis region to the west. Then, as the gap widens, erosion takes over. Those processes created the canyon system we see today. It is a collection of giant canyons 4,000 km long, 200 km wide, and up to 7 km deep in places.
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The Mars Express orbiter has been circling the Red Planet since 2003. Its main task is to draw and map the surface and minerals. It sends back data about the atmosphere and can probe beneath the crust. The spacecraft uses a High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) to create detailed images of the surface. Through the camera, planetary scientists have seen spectacular views of everything from wind-chiseled mountains and grooves, to craters and channels that once carried liquid water. They also study volcanoes, tectonic faults, river channels, and ancient lava pools.
Hiking the Martian Gorge
Images of the Martian surface terrain from Mars Express and other missions inspire exploration dreams. For the adventurous, they also suggest extended hiking trips across the Red Planet. So, imagine walking to the edge of the Tithonium Chasma, for example, and looking down into the canyon. It is large enough and deep enough to dwarf some of the tallest mountains on Earth. And, it won’t be an easy climb.
At the top of Tithonium there is a deposit of dark material which is probably volcanic sand blown from the west. Once you clear it, you cross some 3,000-meter-high mountains that have been eroded by the Martian winds. The descent continues through an area that may have been flooded with some kind of liquid. And, of course, there are landslide areas and other rough terrain to traverse before you reach the bottom.
Things don’t get any easier at Ius Chasma, with steep slopes to climb. However, once you get to the floor of the canyon, there are many rock formations to explore. It will be years before recreational hiking becomes available on Mars. Maybe at that time, the traces made by geologists will make things easier.
For now, however, science is the main reason for exploration. These two canyons offer clues to Mars’ geological past, showing evidence of tectonic activity, volcanism, and wind erosion and deposition. These processes produce giant “cracks” that split the surface. They also deposit sand on the surface, and create layered rock deposits.
Superlatives Elsewhere
If canyon climbing isn’t your thing, there’s always Olympus Mons to consider. It is the tallest mountain in the solar system, towering nearly 22 kilometers above the surrounding Martian landscape. Skiers will love this mountain (if there’s enough snow) because it’s a long way from the caldera to the base. Of course, it will be a tough journey. This thing is a shield volcano, and thousands of eruptions have shaped and carved the landscape. They give way to a fairly steep cliff that descends 8 kilometers.
Speaking of cliffs, the highest in the solar system is not on Mars. It’s actually on the moon Miranda, which orbits Uranus far away. This massive cliff is called Verona Rupes and rises more than 20 kilometers above the surface. The folks at NASA calculated that, with Miranda’s low gravity, someone jumping from above (perhaps with airbag protection), would have a 12-minute journey down. They will reach a terminal speed of about 200 kilometers per hour. Provided they survive, jumpers Verona Rupes can boast of an incredible thrill ride.
Not to be outdone, the tiny planet 4 Vesta, has a crater called Rheasilvia, which measures 500 kilometers. That’s about 90 percent of Vesta’s diameter! This crater has a central peak that rises 23 km above the crater floor. To get to the mountain for a good climb, you have to descend into the crater at the top of a steep slope. Then, you’ll hike across fairly rugged landscapes to get to the top. The very low surface gravity means it will be a fairly easy climb, albeit a long one.
Planetary Exploration Spin-off
Missions like Mars Express, Voyagers, Dawn, and more reveal spectacular views across the entire solar system. They were sent to give planetary scientists a detailed view of distant worlds. The images they send are evocative and inspiring. It may take a while before anyone can climb these places, but the images certainly inspire dreams of individual exploration.
For more information
Dawn Mission Overview
Mars Express Peek into Mars’ Grand Canyon
Olympus Mons
Verona Rupes: The Highest Known Cliff in the Solar System
#Deepest #Canyon #Solar #System #Space
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