Student Article
Water Found Buried Under Mars's Equator
Equator (noun): An imaginary line around the middle of a planet.
Spacecraft (noun): A vehicle used for traveling in space.
Deposit (noun): A layer of material found in the ground.
Radar (noun): A system that uses radio waves to find objects.
Scientists have found something amazing on Mars! Let's learn about the exciting discovery of ice under the surface of the Red Planet.
Ice hidden beneath the surface
Scientists have discovered ice buried under the surface of Mars, near the equator. The ice was found using new data from a spacecraft called Mars Express. The ice is hidden deep under the ground, in a place called the Medusae Fossae Formation.
Solving a 15-year mystery
Fifteen years ago, Mars Express found big deposits under this area, but no one knew what they were. Scientists now know these deposits are made of ice. The ice is very thick, about 2.3 miles (3.7 kilometers) deep!
Enough water to fill a sea
If all the ice melted, it would cover Mars in a layer of water that is 4.9 to 8.9 feet (1.5 to 2.7 meters) deep. That's a lot of water! This discovery is important because it could help future human missions to Mars. The ice could be used as a water source for astronauts.
Why didn’t we see it sooner?
Finding the ice was tricky because it is mixed with a lot of dust. But the new radar data helped scientists figure it out. The ice is protected by a layer of dust, which keeps it from melting.
A glimpse into Mars's ancient past
Here’s the coolest part: this ice couldn’t have formed with today’s climate on Mars. It's leftover from a long time ago, which makes it even more interesting for scientists to study.
© Noa Leach / Our Media
Equator (noun): An imaginary line around the middle of a planet.
Spacecraft (noun): A vehicle used for traveling in space.
Deposit (noun): A layer of material found in the ground.
Radar (noun): A system that uses radio waves to find objects.