The emoji-like structure, which can only be seen under certain conditions, is the remains of an ancient lake that dried up billions of years ago — and may contain signs of past life on the Red Planet.
The European Space Agency (ESA) shared the image of the smiley face in an Instagram post on September 7.
The smiling shape, consisting of a ring of ancient chloride salt deposits with a pair of eyes representing impact craters, was captured by the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, which has been analyzing levels of methane and other gases in Mars‘ thin atmosphere since 2016.
Normally, such deposits are indistinguishable from the rest of the Martian surface, but when viewed with infrared cameras, such as those on the ExoMars Orbiter, the salts appear pink or purple.
The image was captured as part of a study published Aug. 3 in the journal Scientific Data, in which scientists created the first robust catalog of chloride salt deposits on Mars using images from the ExoMars Orbiter.
In total, the team identified 965 different types of deposits scattered across the Red Planet, ranging in width from 1,000 to 10,000 feet (300 to 3,000 meters).
It is currently unclear how big the smiley face will be.
These deposits are particularly important because they “can provide ideal conditions for biological activity and preservation,” making them “a prime target for astrobiological exploration,” according to the paper.
Mars was once a watery world, with lakes, rivers and a shallow ocean similar to those on Earth. But somewhere between 2 billion and 3 billion years ago, the water dried up after a dramatic climate change. This was likely driven by the loss of Mars’ magnetic field, which allowed solar winds to gradually strip away most of the planet’s atmosphere and eventually cause most of its liquid water to freeze or evaporate into space.
The salty deposits emerged as the last water from Martian lakes disappeared at the end of the planet’s “hydrodynamic past,” the scientists wrote. In some locations, the remaining salts are the only evidence that water ever existed, they added. But the deposits could also have major implications for the search for evidence of ancient life on Mars.
Scientists believe that as Mars’ lakes began to shrink and disappear, the remaining water became extremely salty, allowing it to remain liquid despite temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius), according to a statement from the European Space Agency.
These latter salt ponds “may have become havens” for extremophile microbes that may have survived Mars’ transformation, causing their remains to accumulate in these sediments as the water eventually dried up, the scientists wrote in the statement. If this happened, the salts may also have acted as preservatives, potentially preserving evidence of these extinct life forms intact for billions of years.
Source: Live Science
#Scientists #spot #smiling #face #Mars
2024-09-12 15:42:56
Table of Contents
The Smiley Face on Mars: A Window to the Red Planet’s Ancient Past
In a fascinating discovery, the European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed an eerie smiley face on the surface of Mars, captured by its ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The image, shared on Instagram on September 7, shows a ring of ancient chloride salt deposits with two impact craters resembling eyes, giving it a striking resemblance to a happy face emoji. But what makes this feature so significant is that it’s a remnant of an ancient lake that dried up billions of years ago, and may hold clues to past life on the Red Planet.
The Formation of the Smiley Face
The smiley face, as it’s being called, is composed of a ring of ancient chloride salt deposits that appear pink or purple when viewed with infrared cameras, such as those on the ExoMars Orbiter [[2]]. These deposits emerged as the last water from Martian lakes disappeared, marking the end of the planet’s “hydrodynamic past” [[3]].
The Importance of Chloride Salt Deposits
These deposits are crucial for astrobiological exploration, as they “can provide ideal conditions for biological activity and preservation” [[1]]. In fact, scientists believe that as Mars’ lakes began to shrink and disappear, the remaining water became extremely salty, allowing it to remain liquid despite temperature fluctuations, thus creating an environment conducive to life.
A Catalog of Chloride Salt Deposits on Mars
The image of the smiley face was captured as part of a study published on August 3 in the journal Scientific Data, which created the first robust catalog of chloride salt deposits on Mars using images from the ExoMars Orbiter [[1]]. The team identified 965 different types of deposits scattered across the Red Planet, ranging in width from 1,000 to 10,000 feet (300 to 3,000 meters).
Mars’ Watery Past and the Search for Ancient Life
Mars was once a watery world, with lakes, rivers, and a shallow ocean similar to those on Earth [[1]]. However, a dramatic climate change led to the water drying up between 2 billion and 3 billion years ago, likely driven by the loss of Mars’ magnetic field. The salty deposits that remain are not only evidence of water’s presence but also potential sites for ancient life.
Implications for Astrobiological Exploration
The discovery of the smiley face on Mars has significant implications for the search for evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet. As scientists continue to study these deposits, they may uncover signs of past life, shedding light on the history of Mars and the possibility of life beyond Earth.
References
<a href="https://www.msss.com/education/happyface/happyface.html”>[3]
The Smiley Face on Mars: A Window to the Red Planet’s Ancient Past
In a fascinating discovery, the European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed an eerie smiley face on the surface of Mars, captured by its ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The image, shared on Instagram on September 7, shows a ring of ancient chloride salt deposits with two impact craters resembling eyes, giving it a striking resemblance to a happy face emoji. But what makes this feature so significant is that it’s a remnant of an ancient lake that dried up billions of years ago, and may hold clues to past life on the Red Planet.
The Formation of the Smiley Face
The smiley face, as it’s being called, is composed of a ring of ancient chloride salt deposits that appear pink or purple when viewed with infrared cameras, such as those on the ExoMars Orbiter [[2]]. These deposits emerged as the last water from Martian lakes disappeared, marking the end of the planet’s “hydrodynamic past” [[3]].
The Importance of Chloride Salt Deposits
These deposits are crucial for astrobiological exploration, as they “can provide ideal conditions for biological activity and preservation” [[1]]. In fact, scientists believe that as Mars’ lakes began to shrink and disappear, the remaining water became extremely salty, allowing it to remain liquid despite temperature fluctuations, thus creating an environment conducive to life.
A Catalog of Chloride Salt Deposits on Mars
The image of the smiley face was captured as part of a study published on August 3
