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

[Judi Lynn]

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/

[Judi Lynn]

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Short video at link:
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