When you purchase through links on our site , we may earn an affiliate perpetration . Here ’s how it make .
A satellite orbiting Mars has captured the better - ever simulacrum of a gigantic " scrape " carved across the Red Planet ’s Earth’s surface . The dark ravine , which is follow by strange zebra - like grade insignia , is likely the termination of uttermost volcanic bodily function millions of years ago .
The striking surface feature , named Aganippe Fossa , is a graben — a " ditch - comparable channel with steep walls on either side , " according to theEuropean Space Agency(ESA ) . Astronomers first spot it as early as 1930 but only formally name it in 1976 , according to theU.S. Geological Survey .
The giant “scar,” known as Aganippe Fossa, is around 375 miles long from end to end.
The graben is incomplete , with various breaks in the groove from end to end , but it is considered to be a single structure that extend around 375 miles ( 600 km ) . That is longer than the Grand Canyon , which is 277 naut mi ( 446 klick ) from one end to the other , according to theNational Park Service . However , the structure is still importantly brusk than Mars’Valles Marineris — the large canyon in thesolar system of rules , which runs for more than 2,500 miles ( 4,000 km ) along the Red Planet ’s equator .
ESA ’s Mars Express artificial satellite get the newly released photos on December 13 , 2023 . The satellite has been circle the Red Planet on an elliptical domain for more than two 10 .
One of the most interesting things in the photo is the palisade landscape , which varies on either side of the jumbo shot . To the left hand , the ground is likely very uneven and contains several hill , channel and ridge . But to the rightfulness , the Din Land looks unruffled and is painted with " zebra - like " bumpy stripes , ESA representatives read .
This map of Mars shows the location of Aganippe Fossa (blue line in bottom left) compared to other Martian locations including Olympus Mons (top left), the three Tharsis volcanoes and Valles Marineris (bottom right).
This stark divergence was likely do by historic farting eroding to the rightfulness of the graben , which wore down the planet ’s control surface in that area . However , it is unclear why the rest of the surrounding landscape painting was insensible .
Related:15 Martian objects that are n’t what they seem
Aganippe Fossa is located near the Qaeda of Arsia Mons , a 12 - naut mi - tall ( 20 km ) extinct volcano on Mars ' Tharsis tableland . This region contains two other major volcanoes , Pavonis Mons and Ascraeus Mons , and together the three utter visor organise a nigh - perfect line perpendicular to the planet ’s equator . The trio is flank by Olympus Mons , thetallest top in the solar system , which lies just outside of Tharsis and stands over 16 Swedish mile ( 25 km ) above the surface — around three times taller than Mount Everest .
The scar was likely because of a magnanimous plume of magma that pooled underneath Arsia Mons long ago , pushing the planet ’s crust up and tearing asunder the surface , ESA example compose .
It is currently undecipherable how old Aganippe Fossa is , butNASApreviously estimatedthat the volcano stopped erupting around 50 million years ago . However , scientists late see grounds of aMartian volcanic extravasation as recently as 50,000 years ago , hinting that volcanic natural process on the Red Planet is not as ancient as we previously thought .
— Mars is spinning faster , and scientists are n’t sure why
— Scientists finally lick mystery story of strongest Marsquake ever notice
— NASA may have inadvertently institute and killed alien lifespan on Mars 50 eld ago , scientist claim
Similar grabens also live in Noctis Labyrinthus ( think " Labyrinth of Night " in Latin ) — a massive canyon around the size of it of Italy , which is situated between Tharsis and Valles Marineris .
The arena surrounding Tharsis is one of the most geologically interesting regions on the Red Planet . The realm also capture the attention of research worker earlier this twelvemonth after the discoveries of agiant volcano hidden next to Noctis Labyrinthusandmore than 150,000 lots of rooted wateracross the peaks of the three Tharsis volcanoes .
