by Close-ups of a region of Mars scientists had previously only seen from the orbit that “dramatic evidence” was shown for where water once flowed on the red planet.
The new pictures taken by Nasas Curiosity Mars Rover raises new questions about changing the Marsian interface ago.
Mars once had rivers, lakes and possibly an ocean, said NASA. Scientists are not sure why the water has finally dried out and prompted the planet to turn into the cool desert it is today.
The pictures of Curiosity show indications of the old groundwater that is crossed with low ridges that are arranged in what geologists a boxing work pattern are arranged, said the space agency.
“When the current situation of the curiosity of the curiosity formed, the long -lasting lakes in Gale Crater, the Rover landing site, were disappearing, but water was still under the surface,” said NASA in a press release. “The rover found dramatic evidence of this groundwater when it occurred.”
“The basic rock under these combs probably formed when groundwater left the rock behind minerals that have accumulated in these cracks and cracks, hardened and cement -like,” continued the publication. “Aeons of sandblasting by Marswind have the rock, but not the minerals, and revealed networks of resistant combs inside.”
The Rover has been researching the Berg Sharp of the Planet since 2014, where the boxwork pattern was found.
Curiosity “time travel” when they rise from the oldest to recent layers and searches for signs of water and environments that could have supported old microbial life, NASA said.
“A big mystery is why the ridge was hardened in these large patterns and why only here,” said Curiosity’s Project Scientist, Ashwin Vasavada. “As we continue, we will study the burrs and minerals to ensure that our idea of how they have formed is at their destination.”
In another hint, scientists observed that the burrs have small breaks with the salty mineral scalcium sulfate, which was left behind by groundwater.
The deputy project scientist from Curiosity, Abigail Fraeman, said it was a “really surprising” discovery.
“These calcium soul faiths used to be everywhere, but they disappeared more or less than we climbed higher on the mountain Sharp,” said Fraeman. “The team is excited to see why they have returned now.”
