For years, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has been exploring the slopes of Mount Sharp contained in the Crimson Planet’s Gale Crater, on the lookout for clues about Mars’ watery previous. Just lately, Curiosity turned its consideration to a panorama of ridges, hollows and nodules that mission group members name “boxwork terrain.”
What’s it?
This picture, taken by Curiosity’s Left Navigation Digital camera, exhibits the distinction in texture of the Martian panorama, with Curiosity’s mast shadow additionally seen.
Since touchdown on Mars in August 2012, considered one of Curiosity’s main missions has been to know the historical past recorded within the layers of Martian dust. Sediments, minerals and textures all inform a narrative of fixing environments: water, wind and potential historic life. The “boxwork sample” has change into of specific curiosity to NASA scientists, as Gale Crater hosted rivers and streams in Mars’ early historical past.
The place is it?
This picture was taken close to Mount Sharp, which has an elevation of three.4 miles (5.5 kilometers) above the ground of Gale Crater.
Why is it superb?
The boxwork sample refers to an space of low-lying ridges of bedrock that resemble a spiderweb form from area. Orbiting spacecraft flagged these ridges as presumably being created by mineral-rich fluids way back, which hardened some parts greater than others. Then, over deep time, erosion eliminated the softer rock in between, forsaking ridges that stand out.
By finding out how the ridges, hollows and nodules differ in texture, chemistry, and construction, NASA scientists hope to higher perceive what early Mars was like and whether or not it might have hosted historic life.
Wish to study extra?
You’ll be able to learn extra about Curiosity’s mission and the continued hunt for clues to potential life on Mars.
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