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APOD: 2023 April 4 B Olympus Mons: Largest Volcano in the Solar System
Explanation:
The largest volcano in our Solar System is on Mars.
Although three times higher than Earth's
Mount Everest,
Olympus Mons will not be difficult for
humans to climb because of the volcano's
shallow slopes and Mars' low gravity.
Covering an area greater than the entire
Hawaiian volcano chain, the slopes of
Olympus Mons
typically rise only a few degrees at a time.
Olympus Mons
is an immense
shield volcano, built long ago by fluid lava.
A relatively
static surface crust allowed it to build up over time.
Its last eruption is thought to have been about 25 million years ago.
The featured image was taken by the European Space Agency's robotic
Mars Express
spacecraft currently orbiting the
Red
Planet.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mars - Olympus Mons
Publications with words: Mars - Olympus Mons
See also:
- APOD: 2025 July 15 B Collapse in Hebes Chasma on Mars
- APOD: 2025 July 6 B The Spiral North Pole of Mars
- APOD: 2025 June 29 B Dark Sand Cascades on Mars
- APOD: 2025 June 22 B A Berry Bowl of Martian Spherules
- APOD: 2025 June 15 B Two Worlds One Sun
- Perseverance Selfie with Ingenuity
- Deimos Before Sunrise