Valles Marineris Perspective from Mars Express
Explanation:
Europe's
Mars Express satellite has started returning
detailed color images of the red planet.
The first of the current
armada to arrive at
Mars,
the orbiting satellite will photograph the
entire Martian surface
to a resolution of 10 meters or higher,
map the mineral composition to 100 meter resolution, and
investigate the global
circulation
of the atmosphere.
Pictured above is a 3D perspective of the
first image released from this satellite --
a stunning computer reconstruction of part of the
Valles Marineris region,
a canyon nicknamed the
Grand Canyon of Mars.
In reality,
Valles Marineris is four times longer and five times deeper than its
Arizona counterpart.
The
above image shows a portion of
Valles Marineris
roughly 65 kilometers across, detailing many
ridges and
valleys.
Mars Express is scheduled to
continue to send back images for at least a full
Martian year.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
