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Judi Lynn

(162,376 posts)
Sun Mar 24, 2024, 06:46 PM Mar 2024

Gale Crater on Mars seems to have recently had a lot of water



03-24-2024

By Sanjana Gajbhiye
Earth.com staff writer

Recent studies led by Imperial College London have brought a surprising twist to the tale of water on Mars‘ Gale Crater.

When you think of Mars, you probably picture a barren, dusty wasteland. Billions of years ago, rivers flowed and lakes filled its craters. But scientists believe the planet dried up eons ago.

This research turns that idea on its head, suggesting that Mars may have had water – and possibly habitable environments – much more recently than we believed.

Water and the Gale Crater
Gale Crater, a vast basin near Mars‘ equator, is the Curiosity rover’s playground. It’s a fantastic place to explore the history of the red planet. The crater can be imagined as a giant lake, with sediments piling up to form the towering Mount Sharp in its center.

Over time, the lake dried. Rivers vanished. Winds piled sand dunes against those sediments, preserving a record of Mars’ transition from wet to dry. Or so we thought.

More:
https://www.earth.com/news/gale-crater-reveals-secrets-of-water-on-mars/
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Gale Crater on Mars seems to have recently had a lot of water (Original Post) Judi Lynn Mar 2024 OP
Perseverance Rover Delivered Amazing View Of Ancient Mars River Judi Lynn Mar 2024 #1
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