Space

New mosaic from Mars Express: Ancient flood plain on Mars

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
June 6, 2013
Location of Kasei Valles on Mars, via ESA.
Location of Kasei Valles on Mars, via ESA.

Mars is a dry desert world today, but there continue to be abundant signs that it once had flowing water on its surface. The images on this page – released by the European Space Agency (ESA) today (June 6, 2013), in celebration of the Mars Express spacecraft launch 10 years ago this week – show a region on Mars known as Kasei Valles, named for the word “Mars” in Japanese. It is an ancient flood plain on Mars, a huge system nearly 500 kilometers (300 miles) wide in some places. In contrast, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is only about 30 kilometers (18 miles) wide.

The first image is a mosaic, comprised of 67 images taken with the high-resolution stereo camera carried by Mars Express. Space scientists believe that dramatic flood events carved this impressive channel system on Mars. The second image is a perspective view of this amazing and beautiful place, surely a place you would want to check out if you could personally visit the planet next door.

Kasei Valles is one of the largest outflow channel systems on Mars. From source to sink, it extends some 3,000 kilometers (2,000 miles) and descends by 3 kilometers (2 miles) in altitude.
Kasei Valles is one of the largest outflow channel systems on Mars. From source to sink, it extends some 3,000 kilometers (2,000 miles) and descends by 3 kilometers (2 miles) in altitude. Image via ESA.
Perspective view of Kasei Valles, via ESA
Perspective view of Kasei Valles, via ESA

Bottom line: The European Space Agency today released two new images of Kasei Valles on Mars, an ancient and vast flood plain. ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, launched 10 years ago this week, acquired them.

Read more about these images from ESA

Solid evidence that Mars had rivers or streams

Posted 
June 6, 2013
 in 
Space

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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