Life on Mars? Scientists find evidence of ancient network of rivers

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2023 09 19T075800Z 11352658 MT1CVMD53055357 RTRMADP 3 COVER IMAGES Scaled — NASA's intrepid Mars Curiosity Rover has captured breathtaking 360-degree panorama from the base of Gediz Vallis Ridge that shows evidence of water on the Red Planet. This remarkable achievement comes after three previous attempts spanning three years, with the rover finally conquering the ridge on 14 August, 2023, which marked the 3,923rd Martian day, or sol, of its illustrious mission. On 19 August, Curiosity's Mastcam embarked on a mission of its own, capturing a total of 136 individual images that were seamlessly stitched together upon their return to Earth, resulting in the captivating mosaic before us. The colours have been meticulously adjusted to emulate the lighting conditions as perceived by the human eye on our home planet. Gediz Vallis Ridge stands as one of the last features to have taken shape on Mount Sharp, a colossal 3-mile-tall (5-kilometer-tall) mountain that Curiosity has been steadily ascending since 2014. This ridge serves as a living archive, preserving the memory of one of the final wet periods witnessed on this Martian terrain. However, reaching this geological marvel was no easy feat. Previous attempts were thwarted by menacing "gator-back" rocks with knife-edged edges and slopes deemed too steep for the rover's capabilities. After overcoming one of the most challenging climbs in the mission's history, Curiosity spent 11 days at the ridge's base. The rover then set its sights higher up the mountain, to delve into Gediz Vallis Channel. This ancient channel, believed to have transported water some 3 billion years ago, carried with it rocks and debris that gradually accumulated to form the ridge. Curiosity's incredible journey has been made possible by the dedicated team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, under the stewardship of Caltech in Pasadena, California. JPL has been at the helm of this remarkable mission on behalf of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Where: United States When: 19 Sep 2023 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MS

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Paolo Natale

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