Martian Surface

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  NASA’s InSight Mars Lander Captured with Dust Layers by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

  NASA’s retired InSight Mars lander has been spotted by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in a recent image taken on October 23, 2024. The image, captured using the HiRISE camera, shows dust accumulation on InSight’s solar panels, now matching the reddish-brown Martian surface. This observation provides insights into wind patterns and dust m...

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  Mars Dust Storms May Be Predictable Based on Surface Heating Patterns

  A new study suggests warm days on Mars often precede dust storms, with researchers analysing data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The findings show 78% of storms correlate with increased solar heating, particularly in northern regions of the planet. Scientists have developed an algorithm predicting certain storm types with 64% confidence, ...

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  Cosmic Rays Could Erase Signs of Life on Mars, Study Reveals

  A new study highlights how cosmic radiation is destroying signs of ancient life on Mars. Organic materials like lipids degrade quickly under radiation, especially in salt-rich environments. Scientists suggest future Mars exploration should focus on deeper drilling, such as ESA's upcoming Rosalind Franklin Rover mission, to avoid surface radiation e...

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  NASA’s Curiosity Rover Set to Target Spiderweb-Like 'Boxworks Deposits' on Mars' Surface

  NASA’s Curiosity rover is set to explore Martian "spiderweb" formations, known as boxwork, which may reveal secrets about the planet’s ancient watery past. These unique structures, first observed decades ago, could help scientists understand Mars' history of water and the potential for past life. The rover’s investigation aims to study minera...

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  NASA’s Curiosity Rover Concludes Sulphur Study in Gediz Vallis; Mars Journey Continues

  NASA’s Curiosity rover has completed its study of Mars’ Gediz Vallis channel, capturing key images of the sulphur deposits discovered within. The rover's next mission will explore a unique geological formation called the Boxwork. Located in the foothills of Mount Sharp, Gediz Vallis is important for understanding the transition from Mars’ wet...

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  Mars May Have Been Habitable Much More Recently Than Previously Thought: Study

  The study published in Nature Communications makes for the most compelling case to date about Mars' supposed 'life-rich' history.

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  NASA's Rover Captures 'Googly Eye' Eclipse On Mars - Watch

  The potato-shaped Martian moon was passing directly between the Sun and a point on the surface of Mars

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  NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures View of a Big Mars Cater

  NASA's Perseverance rover, currently navigating the western rim of Jezero Crater on Mars, recently captured a breathtaking panoramic view of the landscape. Since landing in 2021, Perseverance has been exploring the 28-mile-wide crater, hoping to find evidence of ancient microbial life. The ascent has presented unique challenges for the rover, but e...

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  NASA Study Suggests Microbial Life May Thrive Beneath Martian Ice

  NASA's study explores how Martian ice could harbour life by creating meltwater pockets beneath the surface that allow photosynthesis. Dust within the ice might absorb sunlight, warming it enough to create these pockets. The findings highlight the possibility of microbial life in Mars’ tropical regions, where sunlight may penetrate deep into the i...

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  NASA's Study Suggests Life Could Thrive Beneath Ice in Mars

  NASA's latest study proposes that meltwater beneath Mars' icy surface could sustain microbial life. Researchers utilised advanced computer modelling to demonstrate that sunlight can penetrate water ice enough to allow photosynthesis in shallow meltwater pools. These pools, which may form in the Martian tropics, could provide a protective environmen...

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  Mars Gravity Maps Shows Strange Hidden Structures Underneath the Surface

  Scientists have unveiled a new gravity map of Mars, revealing hidden structures beneath the surface and active processes affecting Olympus Mons. The map, presented at the Europlanet Science Congress 2024, challenges traditional geological models and shows dense structures under Mars' northern polar plains. Researchers suggest that a mantle plume mi...

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  Scientists Discover Mysterious Structures Hidden Under The Surface of Mars

  The findings revealed that the the Martian mantle's active processes may be fueling the growth of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system.

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  China Aims to Launch Tianwen-3 Mars Sample-Return Mission in 2028, Surpassing US in Space Race

  China is preparing to launch its Tianwen-3 mission around 2028, aiming to return samples from Mars. Liu Jizhong, Chief Designer, shared details at the Tiandu Forum in Huangshan City, Anhui Province. The mission will involve collecting samples from the Martian surface, returning them to Earth through a docking process in Mars’ orbit. Liu also high...

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  Underground Reservouir on Mars Could Fill Oceans on Planet's Surface, Study Reveals

  Recent research based on data from NASA’s InSight mission has identified a substantial underground reservoir on Mars. This reservoir, located between 7 and 12 miles below the Martian surface, could hold enough water to cover the planet to a depth of 1 mile. The data, gathered by InSight’s seismometer between 2018 and 2022, suggests that water i...

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  New Photos Unveil Massive Scar On Surface Of Mars In Unprecedented Detail

  Captured by the Mars Express orbiter's high-resolution stereo camera, the images capture a 600-kilometer-long (373-mile-long) scar on Mars' surface.