Fast Facts
The image was acquired during the spacecraft's 8399th orbit around Mars.
The Mars Express HRSC captured an image of the eastern Ophir Chasma, the northernmost part of the Valles Marineris canyon system.
Overhead, light and wispy cirrus clouds can be seen drifting.
We selected this image because the terrain is absolutely beautiful, especially with the clouds. It's a stunning picture.
The Space Science
The presence of cirrus clouds indicates the existence of water ice crystals in the Martian atmosphere, even though it's very thin and cold. This tells us about water vapour transport and condensation processes on Mars.
The image shows a portion of the Valles Marineris canyon system, a massive rift valley. Studying its morphology helps scientists understand Mars's geological history and tectonic activity.
The fact that the image was taken during the spacecraft's 8399th orbit demonstrates the long-term, continuous data collection that allows scientists to build a comprehensive picture of Mars.
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