Scientists believe that the Martian surface was once full of water.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered stunning Martian rocks in Jezero Crater on the Red Planet that may have signs of life, according to a Newsweek report.
Scientists believe that the Martian surface was once full of water. And these rocks, which are thought to have been altered by water, have given them confidence that the Red Planet was indeed once a water world. The collected samples are preserved by a robot and are being prepared for their journey to Earth.
The Perseverance rover’s landing site was chosen by the space agency to be in Jezero Crater to study ancient lake and river deposits. The 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer) crater is located on the western edge of Isidis Planitia, a flat plain that lies just north of the Martian equator. It is approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) from Curiosity’s landing site in Gale Crater.
A study published in the journal Science Advances under the title “Water-altered igneous rocks on the floor of Jezero Crater, Mars”, the study reveals that the discovery of two different forms of igneous rocks surprised experts who expected to find sedimentary rocks.
These rocks have sulfates and perchlorates in their cavities, which were likely created by the subsequent evaporation of saline solution near the surface, the study also said. According to NASA, this came as a surprise to scientists in the spring of 2021, when its rover began exploring rocks at the bottom of the Jezero crater.
A post was shared by the official head of NASA’s Perseverance rover on Twitter on Friday along with images of the rocks.
I reached the bottom of the ancient Jezero Crater Lake expecting lots of sedimentary rock. Now I can see them in the old river delta, but the bottom of the crater was a surprise: lots of volcanic rocks. 🪨
Now my science team is sharing some of what they put together: https://t.co/HO0zRMue4hpic.twitter.com/z8ZOwqRPGG
— NASA’s Mars Rover Perseverance (@NASAPersevere) August 25, 2022
“I reached the bottom of the ancient Jezero crater lake expecting lots of sedimentary rock. Now I can see them in the delta of the old river, but the bottom of the crater was a surprise: a lot of volcanic rocks. Now, my scientific team is sharing some of what they have put together,” the post’s caption reads.
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