Mars Express captures battered Tharsis Tholus volcano on Mars
Scientists think the volcano emptied its magma chamber during
eruptions, and, as the lava ran out onto the surface, the
volcano collapsed, forming a large caldera. November 15, 2011
The latest image released from Mars Express reveals a large
extinct volcano that has been battered and deformed over eons.
Battered volcano Tharsis Tholus. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G.
Neukum) By earthly standards, Tharsis Tholus is a giant,
towering 5 miles (8 kilometers) above the surrounding terrain,
with a base stretching over 100 by 80 miles (155 by 125 km). Yet
on Mars, it is just an average-sized volcano. What marks it out
as unusual is its battered condition. Shown here in this image
taken by the HRSC high-resolution stereo camera on the European
Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft, the volcanic
edifice has been marked by dramatic events. At least two large
sections have collapsed around its eastern and western flanks
during its four-billion-year histo