NASA’s Curiosity rover, which has been studying Mars’ surface since 2012, has recently discovered proof that Mars formerly had water on its surface.
The Curiosity crew, according to the space agency, thought it had found the remaining traces of the ancient lakes that formerly covered the area the rover is presently examining. Simply put, the fact that the rock layers where Curiosity is stationed formed under substantially drier conditions than the locations the rover has previously examined was the team’s main cause of uncertainty.
To the surprise of scientists, Curiosity has now discovered the most convincing proof of Mars’ once-watery history than it has ever uncovered. NASA estimates that the 3-mile-tall Mount Sharp would have formerly had several streams and lakes, making it a rich setting for any ancient microbial life, and Curiosity has been travelling through its foothills since 2014. According to NASA, Mount Sharp is made up of layers, with the oldest ones near the mountain’s base and the youngest ones at the summit.
Another hint to the past of Mars’ prehistoric water can be seen well ahead of the Marker Band in a valley known as Gediz Vallis. The valley was created by wind, but it also has a channel that begins higher up on Mount Sharp and is assumed to have been eroded by a tiny river. Scientists think wet landslides also happened in this area, pushing boulders and other debris the size of cars to the valley floor.
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