NASA Reveals Traces of Ancient Rivers on Mars
The high-resolution image offers a glimpse into Mars' ancient hydrology. Unlike the present-day barren and dry Martian environment, these ancient riverbeds suggest a more temperate past.
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has unveiled traces of ancient rivers on the Red Planet, providing further evidence of Mars' watery past. The image captured by MRO showcases ridges in Aeolis Planum, narrating a story vastly different from Mars' current arid landscape.
Geological features resembling meandering river channels indicate a history of flowing water billions of years ago. These riverbeds, once filled with gravel, surrounded by fine-grained sediment, have undergone a transformation known as "inverted channels." As the rivers dried up, the finer materials eroded, leaving behind elevated ridges of gravel.
The high-resolution image offers a glimpse into Mars' ancient hydrology. Unlike the present-day barren and dry Martian environment, characterized by a sparse atmosphere and irradiated surface, these ancient riverbeds suggest a more temperate past.
While Mars today presents harsh conditions for life, ongoing missions like NASA's Perseverance rover aim to uncover clues about its past habitability.