This image from ESAs Mars Express reveals part of Tantalus Fossae, a large system of faults found on Mars, in broader context.The location laid out by the bold white box indicates the area imaged by the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera on July 19, 2021, throughout orbit 22173. Credit: NASA/MGS/MOLA Science Team
The fossae were created as the summit of Alba Mons increased in elevation, causing the surrounding surface to end up being deformed, prolonged, and broken. The Tantalus Fossae faults are a fantastic example of a surface feature called grabens; each trench formed as 2 parallel faults opened, triggering the rock in between to fall into the resulting void.
This oblique perspective view of Tantalus Fossae on Mars was produced from the digital terrain model and the nadir and color channels of the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESAs Mars Express. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The same functions can be found on the western side of Alba Mons, forming an insufficient ring around the volcano. In general, this volcanos associated grabens extend for approximately 1000 km (620 miles) in length, approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) in width, and depend on 350 m (1,150 feet) deep.
A complicated history
Throughout this Mars Express image, numerous grabens can be seen running roughly northeast (bottom-right) to southwest (top-left).
These structures are believed to have actually formed not at the very same time however one after the other, providing researchers the chance to reconstruct a past timeline and photo of what developed this remarkable landscape.
The big effect crater at the center of the image, for instance, is crosscut by grabens, indicating that it was currently present before the volcano was boosted to produce the Tantalus Fossae faults. The second-largest impact crater (far smaller and to the bottom-left of the main crater) appears to superpose the faults, and is for that reason likely to be younger.
This oblique perspective view of Tantalus Fossae on Mars was created from the digital terrain design and the nadir and color channels of the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESAs Mars Express. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Upon closer look, many small, branching valleys can be seen across this region. These valleys appear to cut straight through the grabens, therefore are assumed to be older.
As revealed most clearly in the associated topographic view, the northern (right) part contains far lower surface than the southern (left) part– in locations, as much as three kilometers lower in altitude. We would expect any small, branching valleys to run along the slopes of Alba Mons and merge where the ground is most affordable, but this is not seen here, implying that the valleys need to originate from more ancient times– prior to Alba Mons rose to shape this surface into what we see today.
This color-coded topographic picture of Tantalus Fossae was developed from information gathered by ESAs Mars Express on July 19, 2021, throughout orbit 22173. It is based on a digital surface design of the region, from which the topography of the landscape can be obtained. Lower parts of the surface area are revealed in blues and purples, while higher altitude regions show up in whites and reds, as suggested on the scale to the leading. North is to the. The ground resolution is roughly 18 m/pixel and the images are centered at about 43 ° N/257 ° E. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
This area is named after Tantalus, a boy of Zeus and Plouto (Pluto) who, according to Greek legend, betrayed the gods and was forced by Hades to stand in water beneath a fruit tree. And when he tried to consume the branches moved beyond his reach– a penalty understood as the torments of Tantalus when he tried to consume the water pulled back.
Exploring Mars
Mars Express has actually been orbiting the Red Planet considering that 2003, imaging Mars surface area, mapping its minerals, determining the composition and flow of its tenuous atmosphere, penetrating beneath its crust, and exploring how different phenomena engage in the martian environment.
This stereoscopic image reveals Tantalus Fossae on Mars, and was generated from data captured by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on ESAs Mars Express orbiter on July 19, 2021, throughout orbit 22173. The anaglyph, stemmed from data acquired by the nadir channel and one stereo channel of the HRSC, offers a three-dimensional view when seen using red-green or red-blue glasses. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The objectives High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC), accountable for these brand-new images, has revealed much about Mars diverse surface features, with current images showing whatever from brain surface and wind-sculpted ridges and grooves to volcanoes, effect craters, tectonic faults, river channels, and ancient lava pools.
This image from ESAs Mars Express reveals part of a large fault system on Mars understood as Tantalus Fossae. It was produced using information from the nadir channel, the field of view lined up perpendicular to the surface area of Mars, and the color channels of the HRSC. It is a real color image, showing what would be seen by the human eye if looking at this region of Mars.
This network of long grooves and scratches types part of a huge fault system on Mars understood as Tantalus Fossae, and is shown here as seen by the European Space Agencys Mars Express.
At first look, these features seem the result of somebody raking their fingernails, or claws, throughout the surface area of the Red Planet, gouging out long trenches at the same time.
While not quite so significant in its development, Tantalus Fossae ( fossae implying a hollow or anxiety) is an obvious function on Mars. This system of troughs flanks a sprawling, low-relief martian volcano named Alba Mons, running along the volcanos eastern side.
This image from ESAs Mars Express reveals part of a big fault system on Mars known as Tantalus Fossae. It was produced using information from the nadir channel, the field of view aligned perpendicular to the surface area of Mars, and the color channels of the HRSC. It is a true color image, showing what would be seen by the human eye if looking at this area of Mars. This color-coded topographic image of Tantalus Fossae was produced from information gathered by ESAs Mars Express on July 19, 2021, during orbit 22173. This stereoscopic image shows Tantalus Fossae on Mars, and was produced from data recorded by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on ESAs Mars Express orbiter on July 19, 2021, during orbit 22173.