Student Article
Water Found Buried Under Mars's Equator
Equator (noun): An imaginary line around the middle of a planet.
Radar (noun): A system that uses radio waves to find objects.
Epoch (noun): A period of time in history or a person's life.
Mars has always been a planet of great interest to scientists. Recently, a new discovery has revealed something incredible hidden beneath its surface. Let's dive into the details!
Ice hidden beneath the surface
Scientists have made an exciting discovery on Mars. Using data from ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, they found ice buried under the planet's equator. This ice is located in a region called the Medusae Fossae Formation.
Solving a 15-year mystery
Fifteen years ago, Mars Express detected large deposits under this area, but their composition was unknown. Now, scientists have confirmed that these deposits are made of ice, and they are much thicker than previously thought, reaching depths of about 2.3 miles (3.7 kilometers).
Enough water to fill a sea
If all this ice were to melt, it would create a layer of water 4.9 to 8.9 feet (1.5 to 2.7 meters) deep, enough to fill Earth's Red Sea. This discovery is significant because it could provide a valuable water source for future human missions to Mars, which would likely land near the equator rather than the ice-rich polar caps.
Why didn’t we see it sooner?
The ice is mixed with dust, making it challenging to detect. However, new radar data has helped scientists determine that the deposits are indeed ice. The dust layer on top protects the ice from melting.
A glimpse into Mars's ancient past
This ice could not have formed in Mars's current climate, suggesting it is a remnant from a previous epoch. This finding challenges our understanding of Mars's climate history and raises new questions for future research.
© Noa Leach / Our Media
Equator (noun): An imaginary line around the middle of a planet.
Radar (noun): A system that uses radio waves to find objects.
Epoch (noun): A period of time in history or a person's life.