Humphrey Rock Indicates Ancient Martian Water
Explanation:
How prevalent was water on Mars?
Results from the
Spirit rover now indicate that
Gusev crater likely had a wet past,
a result that comes shortly after Spirit's twin rover
Opportunity uncovered
clear evidence of past water at
Meridiani Planum on the other side of
Mars.
Evidence uncovered by Spirit and
released last week focussed on a large rock of unusual shape
nicknamed Humphrey,
shown
above near the image bottom.
Detailed inspection of the
rock revealed a bright material filling internal cracks.
Such material may have crystallized from water trickling through the
volcanic rock.
The amount of Mars once covered by ancient water remains unknown,
as both rovers landed in regions thought likely to once be underwater.
Spirit continues to roll across Mars,
recently passing the
300-meter mark on its way to
Bonneville crater.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
