Gale Crater Mystery

Three billion years ago, Mars looked very different from how it does now. And ever since weve been able to land rovers on the planets surface, weve been trying to get peeks of its distant past.

The 100-mile Gale Crater, which is believed to be the result of a massive ancient impact, has scientists particularly fascinated. According to data collected by NASAs Curiosity rover, the crater was once dotted with small streams that created an oasis of shallow, salty pools of water.

At least, thats the theory sketched out in a new paper by NASA scientists published in the journal Nature Geoscience. They envision the crater to once have resembled the Altiplanos, the high altitude regions of South America that are dotted with briny lakes and streams.

During drier periods, the Altiplano lakes become shallower, and some can dry out completely, lead author William Rapin said in a statement. The fact that theyre vegetation-free even makes them look a little like Mars.

Since April, the rover has been testing samples from a region called the clay-bearing unit, near Mount Sharp, a peak in the center of the Gale Crater. Samples suggest the region was once a salty lake bed that dried up billions of years ago.

We cant say whether were seeing wind or river deposits yet in the clay-bearing unit, but were comfortable saying is its definitely not the same thing as what came before or what lies ahead, Curiosity team member Chris Fedo said.

READ MORE:NASAs Curiosity Rover Finds an Ancient Oasis on Mars [Jet Propulsion Lab]

More on Martian lakes: New Research: Mars Used To Be Covered In Huge Rivers

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NASA: Rover May Have Found Remnants of Ancient Martian Oasis - Futurism