Recent planetary studies conducted using observations from NASA Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have revealed important insights regarding:
The studies focused particularly on:
Olympus Mons lies in the western hemisphere of Mars, close to the equator, within the elevated volcanic plateau called the Tharsis region.It is the:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | About 26 km |
| Type | Shield Volcano |
| Base Width | More than 600 km across |
| Summit Feature | Deep central caldera with overlapping collapse pits |
Its enormous base is so wide that a traveller standing near one edge would not be able to see the summit.
Olympus Mons is a shield volcano.Shield volcanoes form when:
Unlike steep volcanic cones, Olympus Mons developed through continuous lava accumulation over millions of years.Its slopes extend gradually across hundreds of kilometres, giving it a relatively flat appearance from orbit.
Earth’s volcanoes are strongly influenced by plate tectonics.On Earth:
Mars behaves differently because:
Olympus Mons remained positioned above a persistent magma source in the Tharsis region for extremely long periods.As a result:
This allowed Olympus Mons to become disproportionately large compared to Martian size.
In 2024, researchers detected frost near the summit of Olympus Mons.
This discovery was significant because:
Before spacecraft exploration, astronomers observed a bright reflective patch on Mars through Earth-based telescopes.The feature was called:
Initially scientists believed it was surface ice.Only in 1971 did NASA’s Mariner 9 spacecraft confirm that the feature was actually a colossal volcano.
NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter captured a historic panorama showing Arsia Mons protruding above morning cloud tops.This was the first horizon-style image of a Martian volcano resembling the Earth-view perspective from the International Space Station.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Shield Volcano |
| Height | About 20 km |
| Region | Tharsis Montes |
| Position | Southernmost Tharsis volcano |
The Tharsis Montes consists of three major volcanoes:
Nearby lies:
Arsia Mons is frequently surrounded by water-ice clouds.These clouds form when:
Cloud formation becomes especially intense during:
This produces the Aphelion Cloud Belt, a major equatorial cloud system on Mars.
NASA’s Odyssey mission rotated its spacecraft by 90° to capture horizon images.These observations help scientists study:
The findings are important for:
The Mars Odyssey spacecraft uses the:Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
The Aganippe Fossa is a massive scar-like ravine cutting across the lower flank of Arsia Mons.Though first identified in 1930, detailed modern observations were made using ESA’s Mars Express mission.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | Around 600 km |
| Nature | Ditch-like groove |
| Region | Base of Arsia Mons |
| Observation Mission | ESA Mars Express |
ESA described it as:
The exact formation mechanism remains uncertain.
New studies based on NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data revealed that two giant lunar canyons near the Moon’s south pole formed rapidly following a massive asteroid or comet impact around 3.8 billion years ago.The impact occurred near the:
Unlike Earth’s Grand Canyon, which formed through river erosion over millions of years, the lunar canyons formed in less than 10 minutes.
The impact released energy estimated at:
| Canyon | Length | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Vallis Planck | ~280 km | ~3.5 km |
| Vallis Schrödinger | ~270 km | ~2.7 km |
These canyons are located near the lunar south pole exploration region associated with NASA’s future Artemis missions.
The Moon preserves ancient impact features because:
Earth, in contrast, continuously recycles crust through tectonic activity, erasing many ancient impact scars.
Scientists proposed placing ultrastable lasers inside permanently shadowed lunar craters to support a future GPS-like lunar navigation system.
These craters:
The conditions inside these craters provide:
These conditions are ideal for operating:
The system would function similarly to Earth’s GPS.
Ultrastable lasers could act as precision timing references for future lunar positioning systems.
The proposed navigation infrastructure is important because:
| Feature | Important Fact |
|---|---|
| Olympus Mons | Largest volcano in Solar System |
| Arsia Mons | Part of Tharsis Montes |
| Aganippe Fossa | Giant ravine near Arsia Mons |
| Schrödinger Basin | Near lunar south pole |
| Vallis Planck | Giant lunar canyon |
| THEMIS | Infrared-visible camera aboard Mars Odyssey |
| Aphelion Cloud Belt | Seasonal Martian equatorial cloud band |
Recent studies of Martian volcanoes and lunar impact structures have significantly expanded scientific understanding regarding:
Jezero Crater is an important impact crater located on Mars.It is approximately:
NASA selected Jezero Crater as the landing site for the:
Scientists believe that:
Because of this, Jezero Crater is considered one of the best locations to search for:
The preserved sediments inside the crater may contain clues regarding the ancient climatic and hydrological history of Mars.
The South Pole–Aitken Basin is located on the Moon.It is:
Scientific studies indicate the presence of:
Researchers believe this dense material may be:
According to one theory:
Another theory suggests the material may represent:
This makes the basin extremely important for understanding:
Mitra Crater is a lunar impact crater located on the Moon.The crater was named after:
The naming was approved in 1970 by:
The IAU is the global authority responsible for naming planetary features in the Solar System.
During its mission, Chandrayaan-2 captured images of several lunar craters while passing over the Moon’s north polar region.Among the observed craters was:
This highlighted India’s growing capability in high-resolution lunar surface imaging and mapping.
Bhabha Crater is a lunar impact crater located on the far side of the Moon.
The outer rampart of Bose Crater produces:
Other nearby important craters include:
| Feature | Celestial Body | Type | Important Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jezero Crater | Mars | Impact Crater | Perseverance Rover landing site |
| South Pole–Aitken Basin | Moon | Giant Impact Basin | Largest preserved impact crater in Solar System |
| Mitra Crater | Moon | Lunar Impact Crater | Named after Sisir Kumar Mitra |
| Bhabha Crater | Moon | Lunar Impact Crater | Located on Moon’s far side |
| Feature | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Isidis Planitia | Plain near Jezero Crater on Mars |
| Perseverance Rover | NASA rover exploring Jezero Crater |
| Lunar Magma Ocean | Early molten stage of Moon’s history |
| IAU | International authority for planetary naming |
| Moon Far Side | Side of Moon not permanently visible from Earth |
Features such as Olympus Mons, Arsia Mons, Aganippe Fossa, and the giant lunar canyons near the Schrödinger Basin demonstrate how planetary surfaces preserve evidence of processes that shaped the Solar System over billions of years.
Updated – 21 May 2026 ; 04:15 PM | Times of India, NASA JPL, New York Post, Reuters, Space.com