BTN News: New photos from the European Space Agency (ESA) show a 600-kilometer-long scar on Mars called Aganippe Fossa. This deep trench is one of many marks on Mars.
How Aganippe Fossa Was Made
We are not sure how Aganippe Fossa formed. Scientists think magma rose under big volcanoes on Mars and cracked the surface. The name “Aganippe Fossa” comes from a myth. Aganippe was a nymph in Greek stories. On Mars, Aganippe Fossa is at the base of Arsia Mons, a large volcano. The word “fossa” means ditch in Latin.
Mars Express: 21 Years of Studying Mars
The ESA’s Mars Express mission took these photos. Mars Express has been studying Mars since 2003. Its lander, Beagle 2, was lost, but the orbiter still works.
The High Resolution Stereo Camera on Mars Express maps minerals and studies the atmosphere. It also looks under the surface and explores Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos. The camera has shown hills and cliffs covered in debris. These areas are called mountainous and lobate terrains.
These terrains are around Arsia Mons, in a ring-shaped area. This area might be linked to old glaciers. It is only on the northwest side of the volcano, maybe because of the wind.
Studying the Surface and Air of Mars
The ESA team also looks at how wind moves dust and sand in this area. The wind makes zebra-like patterns on the surface. The surface also shows old lava flows from the volcano.
Aganippe Fossa is one of many light and dark areas on Mars. These areas can be seen from Earth with telescopes. Space orbiters give us very clear views of Mars.
Instruments and Discoveries of Mars Express
Mars Express has many tools to study Mars closely. It has found minerals that need water to form, showing Mars once had water. Important tools are:
- HRSC (High Resolution Stereo Camera): Takes high-quality, 3D pictures of Mars’ surface.
- OMEGA (Visible and Infrared Mineralogical Mapping Spectrometer): Maps minerals using light.
The mission has given us details about Mars’ air. It even found methane, which might mean life. Important tools are:
- PFS (Planetary Fourier Spectrometer): Studies gases like carbon dioxide and methane in Mars’ air.
- SPICAM (Ultraviolet and Infrared Atmospheric Spectrometer): Measures ozone and water vapor in the air.
- ASPERA (Energetic Neutral Atoms Analyser): Studies how the solar wind affects Mars’ air.
- MaRS (Mars Radio Science Experiment): Uses radio signals to study Mars’ air and inside.
Mars Express found a lake under the ice at the south pole. This hints at more water under the surface. Tools used are:
- MARSIS (Sub-surface Sounding Radar Altimeter): Looks deep into Mars to find water and ice.
- VMC (Visual Monitoring Camera): This “Mars webcam” gives live pictures of the planet.
These tools help Mars Express learn about Mars’ surface, air, and climate. It also studies Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, giving details about what they are made of and where they came from.
