Not Mount Everest but THIS is the tallest mountain in solar system. Can humans scale this?

Mount Everest has always been the ultimate challenge for mountaineers since it was first successfully climbed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. 

However, a new interactive map has brought to the fore the solar system's tallest mountains which have widened the scope of the mountaineers to conquer the unfathomable mountain which has the tallest peak in the universe. 

The challenge is daunting because this highest peak of the solar system is not on Earth but on asteroid Vesta which is a large space rock that has nine per cent of the mass of all discovered asteroids.

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Rheasilvia mountain of Vesta, which is at 22,500m (74,000ft), is three times in size compared to Mount Everest and was formed by an impact crater which covers 90 per cent of the entire area of the asteroid.

Red Planet's Olympus Mons emerges as second tallest mountain in solar system

The second place has been given to Olympus Mons on Mars which is the solar system's tallest volcano at 21,945m (72,000ft). 

Olympus Mons is a 'shield volcano' that is very wide and spread in an area similar to France. 

For the last 25 million years, the volcano has remained dormant. Olympus Mons was first discovered by the NASA Mariner 9 spacecraft in 1971 and has been named after the mythological home of the Greek gods.

The mountain belongs to the chain of peaks known as the Tharsis Rise, which is present near the equator of the planet.

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Olympus Mons was not formed because of the movement of tectonic plates like the volcanoes on Earth and is sitting above a magma hotspot.

This location resulted in the build-up of the volcano because of millions of years of activity which allowed it to enhance at colossal proportions. Recently, scientists made a stunning discovery when they found ice forms on top of the mountain.

A layer of frost, which is as thick as human hair, was noticed to be settling on the peak every day and depositing water which was for filling 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

(With inputs from agencies)