The APOD image for November 10, 2024, showcases Valles Marineris, the largest canyon in the Solar System, located on Mars. Spanning over 3,000 kilometers in length, up to 600 kilometers in width, and plunging to depths of 8 kilometers, it dwarfs Earth's Grand Canyon, which is 800 kilometers long, 30 kilometers wide, and 1.8 kilometers deep.Valles Marineris: The Grand Canyon of Mars
Explanation: The largest canyon in the Solar System cuts a wide swath across the face of Mars. Named Valles Marineris, the grand valley extends over 3,000 kilometers long, spans as much as 600 kilometers across, and delves as much as 8 kilometers deep slope ball. By comparison, the Earth's Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA is 800 kilometers long, 30 kilometers across, and 1.8 kilometers deep. The origin of the Valles Marineris remains unknown, although a leading hypothesis holds that it started as a crack billions of years ago as the planet cooled. Several geologic processes have been identified in the canyon. The featured mosaic was created from over 100 images of Mars taken by Viking Orbiters in the 1970s.
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