The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
This 3D image of the Hecates Tholus volcano was taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on Mars Express in orbit 32 on 19 January 2004 from an altitude of 275 km. The 3D effect can only be observed by using stereoscopic (red/green) glasses.
It shows the summit caldera of Hecates Tholus, the northernmost volcano of the Elysium volcano group. The volcano shows multiple caldera collapses. On the flanks of Hecates Tholus several flow features related to water (lines radiating outwards) and pit chains related to lava can be observed. The volcano has an elevation of 5300 m, the caldera has a diameter of maximum 10 km and a depth of 600 m.
Note that in order to achieve the optimum 3D effect north is on the right.