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#WorldPhotographyDay: incredible images of Mars from India's Mars Orbiter mission

Shweta Sengar | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 3:46 IST

Mangalyaan or the Mars Orbiter Mission, a Mars-bound mission by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been sending back some stunning images of the red planet and its surface.

On 19 July, Mangalyaan, the world's cheapest Mars mission, snapped pictures of Ophir Chasma, which is a massive canyon which is about 317 kilometres long and 62 metres wide. The canyon is a part of Valles Marineris, a system of canyons on Mars which is around 4,000 kilometres long. In easier terms, think it as of something which is nine times the length of the Grand Canyon in the US.

Mangalyaan's Mars Color Camera has transmitted photographs of physical formations on Mars which includes craters, ridges and valleys.

Mars mission was launched by ISRO on 5 November, 2013. This was India's first inter-planetary mission. Mangalyaan reached Mars' orbit in September 2014 and since then it has been studying the planet surface and atmosphere.

On World Photography Day, we bring to you some incredible images sent by MOM. Enjoy the stunning view:

01
Ophir Chasma terrain on Mars
Mars-Ophir Chasma-ISRO

Photo: ISRO

Ophir Chasma is a canyon in the Coprates quadrangle of Mars. The canyon is about 317 km long and has been named after Ophir, a land mentioned in the Bible.

02
'Pital Crater'
Mars pital crater-ISRO

Photo: ISRO

Pital Crater is an impact crater which is located in Ophir Planum region of Mars. Pital is located in the eastern part of Valles Marineris region. Mars Color Camera (MCC) took this image.

03
Gale Crater
Gale Crater-ISRO

Photo: ISRO

Gale Crater is the landing site of NASA's Mars Curiosity rover. This image is taken by MOM from an altitude of 9004 kilometers. Gale crater is home to giant Mount Sharp. The mountain rises 5.5 km from the crater floor and is easily visible in this photo.

04
Mars
Mars-ISRO

Photo: ISRO

Mangalyaan took this picture of Mars from an altitude of 8,449 kilometres.

05
First image from Mangalyaan
Mars first image-ISRO

Photo: ISRO

Mangalyaan took and sent back to Earth this image of Mars. The interesting point here is that this is the first image of Mars taken by Mangalyaan, taken from a height of 7,300 kilometres.

06
Eos Chaos area
Mars 2-ISRO

Photo: ISRO

Eos Chaos area, part of the gigantic Valles Marineris Canyon of Mars. It is a rough, collapsed area on Mars which is spread over an area of 490 kilometres.

First published: 18 August 2015, 5:43 IST
 
Shweta Sengar @ShwetaSengar

Shweta covers Science & Technology for Catch Live at Catch News, scouring the Internet to bring readers items of interest, both serious and amusing. A foodie, photography enthusiast and globetrotter, she has also worked at The Economic Times before joining the Catch team. She studied Commerce at Kanpur University and has a PGD in Advanced Journalism from YMCA, New Delhi.