Topographic image map of western Acheron Fossae
Topographic image map of western Acheron Fossae
DLR's HRSC stereo camera onboard Mars Express uses its nine sensors to image the Martian surface at various angles across the flight path. The colour scale in the upper right shows elevation values relative to the areoid – an imaginary Martian reference surface (from the Latin 'Ares') with uniform gravitational pull. It clearly shows the dramatic transition from the Martian highlands to the lowlands of Amazonis Planitia (north is to the right in the image). Similar to the Alps, the elevation difference between the highest mountain peaks and the foothills exceeds 3000 metres.
