Martian Crater Shows Evidence of Dried Pond
Explanation:
Did a pond once exist in this Martian crater?
Recent photographs by the spacecraft
Mars Global Surveyor, currently in orbit around
Mars, show features unusual for
Mars yet similar to a dried pond on
Earth.
Previously, much evidence suggested the effects of
ancient channels
of flowing water on Mars, but less evidence
had been found for
dried pools of water.
Islands and bays on this
crater floor indicate
an accumulation of some liquid, however, a hypothesis
consistent with channels found on the (inset)
crater walls.
As it is also possible the features were
formed by other mechanisms including
flowing lava,
future observations and analysis will be needed to
say for sure.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
