Space photo of the week: Ancient 'labyrinth of night' on Mars, one of the biggest mazes in the solar system

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Take a trip through the maze-like valleys and canyons of a unique place in the solar system: Mars' 'labyrinth of night.'

Noctis Labyrinthus, as seen by Mars Express.
Noctis Labyrinthus, as seen by Mars Express. (Image credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)

What it is: A rift valley called Noctis Labyrinthus ("labyrinth of night")

When it was released: Jan. 24, 2024

In the new image, the original ground level can still be seen, though much of the ground has eroded. That's because volcanism has caused the surface to stretch upward, thinning the planet's crust and forming cracks.

Noctis Labyrinthus is between the western edge of Valles Marineris, an extensive canyon system known as the "Grand Canyon" of Mars, and Tharsis, the largest volcanic region on Mars, which contains 12 large volcanoes.

During its almost 20 years of science, Mars Express has provided spectacular images of the Red Planet and traced the history of water across its surface, providing evidence that Mars once had environmental conditions suitable for life.

How to see it in the night sky: Although it's possible to see Mars just before sunrise, the planet looks its brightest close to opposition, when it's closest to Earth. That occurs every 26 months and will next happen on Jan. 15, 2025.

Jamie Carter
Jamie Carter
Live Science contributor

Jamie Carter is a Cardiff, U.K.-based freelance science journalist and a regular contributor to Live Science. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and co-author of The Eclipse Effect, and leads international stargazing and eclipse-chasing tours. His work appears regularly in Space.com, Forbes, New Scientist, BBC Sky at Night, Sky & Telescope, and other major science and astronomy publications. He is also the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com.