Scientists announced a major discovery on Mars during the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held in The Woodlands, Texas. They revealed the discovery of a giant volcano and a possible sheet of buried glacier ice.
Significant Discovery
A spacecraft orbiting the red planet repeatedly captured images of the evasive volcano. Although the Mariner 9 has constantly captured images of Mars since 1971, scientists haven’t found the massive volcano until now. Because the volcano is deeply eroded beyond recognition, it hides in plain sight in one of Mars’ most iconic regions.
Pending an official name, scientists are calling the massive volcano “Noctis Volcano” and it is located in a region between Noctis Labyrinthus (Labyrinth of the Night) and the monumental canyons of Valles Marineris (Valleys of Mariner). Its gigantic size reaches 29,600 feet in height and stretches 280 miles wide. The massive size and complex modification history indicate that the volcano has been active for a long time.
There is significance in the combination of the massive volcano and the possible glacier ice discovery. According to scientists, it points to an exciting location for them to conduct research. This includes studying Mars’ geologic evolution through time, searching for life, and exploring with robots and humans in the future.
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
