Mangalyaan sends home stunning pictures of Mars canyon

On August 15 , Mangalyaan, India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) captured stunning three-dimensional images on the red planet of a 5000 km long canyon named Valles Marineris.

It is the largest canyon discovered in the solar system. Captured with the Mars Colour Camera, are pictures of a valley named Opir Chasma which is 62 km wide bordered by high cliffs.

Images Credit: www.isro.gov.in

Ophir Chasma terrain

Earlier this year, it also sent pictures of the 700 km long Ma'adim Vallis, which is an outflowing channel from an area scientists believe contained a group of lakes.

Images Credit: www.isro.gov.in

Images Credit: www.isro.gov.in

ISRO has posted on its website a 3D- Visualisation of Mars Terrain to get an understanding of the vastness of Valles Marineris. You can watch the video here.

Mangalyaan reached Mars 15 months ago making India the only country to successfully undertake a mission to Mars in its first attempt. US, Russia and Europe had made previous attempts. ISRO is now setting its sights on developing and launching  Mangalyaan 2 to Mars between 2018 and 2020.

Read: Mushroom cloud on Mars captured by Mars Orbiter Mission