The Top 10 Tallest Known Mountains in the Solar System
While we do have some pretty impressive mountains here on Earth they are nothing but speed bumps when you compare them to the tallest mountains in the tallest known mountains in the solar system, some of which wouldn’t even fit on Earth, they would poke through the atmosphere! So let’s pop on our space suits and going intergalactic mountain climbing…
The Top 10 Tallest Known Mountains in the Solar System
Limb Mountain Peak, Oberon
10 – Limb Mountain Peak, Oberon – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 11 km (7 mi)
At just 5.49 miles, not even Mount Everest compares to our number 10. Spotted and calculated by Voyager 2 it doesn’t even officially have a name, but some have come to tall it Limb Mountain.
Arsia Mons Peak, Mars
9 – Arsia Mons Peak, Mars – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 11.7 km (7.3 mi)
Not only is Arsia Mons tall, it is also said to be 138 km (86 miles) across as well! I suppose when its a super tall mountain it also needs to be wide to keep it going upwards.
Elysium Mons Peak, Mars
8 – Elysium Mons Peak, Mars – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 12.6 km (7.8 mi)
This is one of 3 volcanos (collectively known as Tharsis Montes) that bulge near the equator of Mars. This is also the tallest volcano in the solar system as the rest of these on the list are ridges or actual mountains.
Ionian Mons East Ridge Peak, Io
7 – Ionian Mons East Ridge Peak, Io – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 12.7 km (7.9 mi)
It is said there are no less than 135 mountains that have been identified on the surface of Io. To support these super mountains the rock composition consists mostly of silicate, as opposed to sulfur.
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Euboea Montes Peak, Io
6 – Euboea Montes Peak, Io – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 13.4 km (8.3 mi)
This rugby ball-shaped mountain is east of Creidne Patera caldera. It’s part of a curved ridge crest that deeply divided its 2 main sections.
Ascraeus Mons Peak, Mars
5 – Ascraeus Mons Peak, Mars – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 14.9 km (9.3 mi)
This large shield volcano (built almost entirely of fluid lava flows) is located in the located in the Tharsis region and is the northernmost peak of three.
Boösaule Montes South Peak, Io
4 – Boösaule Montes South Peak, Io – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 17.5 km (11.3 mi)
This is the highest mountain of Io and is located in the north-west from the volcano Pele, in the mountain range Boösaule.The official name of the mountain range was given in honour of the cave in Egypt where Io gave birth to Epaphus.
Equatorial Ridge Peak, Iapetus
3 – Equatorial Ridge Peak, Iapetus – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 20 km (12 mi)
While most people have not heard of Saturn’s moon Iapetus it is famed for having a 20 km tall ridge that runs along its equator. It was discovered by the Cassini probe way back in 2004.
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Olympus Mons Peak, Mars
2 – Olympus Mons Peak, Mars – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 21.9 km (14 mi)
This is once again a very large shield volcano on Mars and it roughly 2 1/2 times as tall as Mount Everest! It would take a long time to climb that is for certain.
Rheasilvia Central Peak, Vesta
1 – Rheasilvia Central Peak, Vesta – Estimated Base-to-peak height: 22 km (14 mi)
While there isn’t a whole lot of features on Rheasilvia it does have the largest crater in the Solar System and thus the tallest Mountain as well. It is thought that from base to peak it would take a professional climber several weeks to traverse. It’s not one for space climbing beginners that is for sure.