NASA finds flowing water on Mars
New images taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show evidence of flowing water existing today on the surface of Mars. “There is liquid water today on the surface of Mars,” says NASA. “Because of this, we suspect that it is at least possible to have a habitable environment today.”
New images taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show cliffs, valleys and craters streaked with what appears to be flowing water. According to NASA, the streaks suggest liquid water running down canyons and crater walls, some up to hundreds of meters in length. The trickles leave leave long, dark stains on the surface of Mars during its warmer months before drying up in Autumn as surface temperatures drop.
These dark, narrow, 100-metre streaks called recurring slope lineae flowing downhill on Mars are inferred to have been formed by contemporary flowing water.<br>
Source: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter/University of Arizona/JPL/NASA
NASA scientists are unsure where the water comes from, but hypothesize that it may rise up from underground ice or salty aquifers, or condense out of the thin Martian atmosphere. The discovery raises the chances of Mars being home to some form of life.
“There is liquid water today on the surface of Mars,” said Michael Meyer, the lead scientist on NASA’s Mars exploration program. “Because of this, we suspect that it is at least possible to have a habitable environment today.”
Dark narrow streaks called thought to be caused by water emanating out of the walls of Garni crater on Mars.<br>
Source: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter/University of Arizona/JPL/NASA
Some of the earliest pictures of Mars suggested a planet once home to water. NASA's 1970s explorations showed a surface crossed by dried-up rivers and plains once submerged beneath vast ancient lakes. Earlier this year, NASA unveiled evidence of an ocean that might have covered half of the planet’s northern hemisphere in the distant past. Today's announcement however is the first time NASA has announced that there might still be liquid water on the planet t oday.
If you're interested in finding out more, the NASA team responsible for the discovery also did an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit.
Source: NASA
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