Mars Global Surveyor - Discovery of Water On Mars

Discovery of Water On Mars

On 6 December 2006 NASA released photos of two craters called Terra Sirenum and Centauri Montes which appear to show the presence of water on Mars at some point between 1999 and 2001. The pictures were produced by the Mars Global Surveyor and are quite possibly the spacecraft's final contribution to our knowledge of Mars and the question of whether life or water exists on the planet.

Hundreds of gullies were discovered that were formed from liquid water, possible in recent times. These gullies occur on steep slopes and mostly in certain bands of latitude.

A few channels on Mars displayed inner channels that suggest sustained fluid flows. The most well-known is the one in Nanedi Valles. Another was found in Nirgal Vallis.

Read more about this topic:  Mars Global Surveyor

Famous quotes containing the words discovery of, discovery, water and/or mars:

    The discovery of the North Pole is one of those realities which could not be avoided. It is the wages which human perseverance pays itself when it thinks that something is taking too long. The world needed a discoverer of the North Pole, and in all areas of social activity, merit was less important here than opportunity.
    Karl Kraus (1874–1936)

    We are all humiliated by the sudden discovery of a fact which has existed very comfortably and perhaps been staring at us in private while we have been making up our world entirely without it.
    George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)

    To get wealth and security by guile
    Is like one who pours water into a pot of unbaked clay.
    Tiruvalluvar (c. 5th century A.D.)

    But in the dome of mighty Mars the red,
    Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)