Curiosity Spots 4-8 Centimeter Mars Polygons, Suggesting Ancient Mud Cracks
Updated
Updated · Universe Today · Aug 18
Curiosity Spots 4-8 Centimeter Mars Polygons, Suggesting Ancient Mud Cracks
3 articles · Updated · Universe Today · Aug 18
Summary
NASA’s Curiosity rover returned images of a broad field of polygon-like features in Gale Crater, the first time the car-sized rover has seen that terrain at ground level.
The polygons measure about 4 to 8 centimeters across and may be mud cracks, a pattern scientists link to repeated wet-dry cycles on ancient Mars.
Researchers said more analysis of the shapes and chemistry is needed because similar polygons elsewhere on Mars can also form through freeze-thaw activity or tectonic and volcanic stress.
The finding adds to evidence from a 2023 Nature study that mud cracks in Gale Crater may date to the Noachian-Hesperian transition about 3.8 billion to 3.6 billion years ago, when Mars may have had a more Earth-like climate.