WASHINGTON D.C. — Recent discoveries by the Perseverance Rover on Mars have unveiled some of the oldest rocks ever seen by humans, hinting at a potential new environment where ancient Martian life forms could have thrived, if they existed.
While exploring Jezero Crater during its mission, Perseverance has been analyzing rocks believed to be around 3.7 billion years old (SN: 2/17/23). However, the rover recently reached the rim of the crater after a challenging climb and is now investigating even older rocks that may date back over 4 billion years.
This significant finding sheds light on a time in Martian history that predates any known rocks on Earth, as much of our planet’s ancient surface has been altered over time due to geological processes like subduction zones (SN: 1/13/21).
The exploration of these ancient Martian rocks opens up new possibilities for understanding the planet’s past and its potential for hosting life in its distant history.
2024-12-12 17:39:47
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