Planetary scientists have made an exciting discovery of a new giant volcano on Mars, and I couldn’t help but proudly raise my Lunar and Planetary Society Core-Mantle Boundary Rift Discovery flag for all my neighbors to see. This week, that flag was waving proudly in the breeze.
During the 55th Lunar and Planetary Conference, researchers revealed the finding of a massive volcano and a potential layer of buried glacier ice near the equator of Mars. The volcano, which has been overlooked for decades, was finally identified due to the eroded region and a series of elevated mesas forming an arc. The site also shows clear signs of lava flows and hydrated mineral deposits.
This discovery has sparked interest in future robotic missions to explore the region, shedding light on Mars’ geological history and the process of glaciation that has shaped the planet’s features.
In other space news, SpaceX achieved a successful launch of Starship, the world’s most powerful rocket, reaching an altitude of 200 kilometers above sea level. Although the descent was unsuccessful, this marks a significant milestone in space exploration.
2024-03-17 08:00:04
Link from phys.org