NASA spots shocking ‘green spots’ on Mars – Yahoo News Canada
A team of scientists led by the University of Hawaii at Manoa spotted “green spots” on Mars. Using the HiRISE camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, they found green areas that likely were not visible from previous imaging because the green mineral appeared to only become visible when exposed to Martian dust storms.
These mysterious “green spots” are olivine-rich sand dunes that could give researchers insights into the planet’s history. Olivine, a silicate mineral known for its vibrant green hue, is relatively rare on the Martian surface and typically appears in meteorites, asteroids and other parts of the Solar System. This could signal to researchers that these green spots are actually from past impacts. The green sand is spread out over hundreds of meters, making it highly visible.
“What was special about this olivine, compared to other known occurrences of olivine on Mars, was its abundance and association with these large dust storms,” said lead researcher Dr. Kevin Lewis, of the University of Hawaii. “The storms appeared to unearth or otherwise expose the olivine sand dunes, allowing it to become visible from space.”
While researchers cannot confirm exactly what the origin of this green sand is, there are a number of theories that could explain why olivine is found in such high concentrations on Mars, including:
* Ancient lava flows
* Impact events
* Subsurface water processes
It is believed that the dust storms helped uncover the olivine sand. Once the dust settles, it reveals the greenish color of the sand, and its location is often near the center of impact craters where material can be easily excavated, adding further support to this theory. The findings can help to create more refined Martian maps and also to understand how Martian dust storms help reshape the planet’s landscape.
Scientists are still researching how these mysterious “green spots” on Mars are related to olivine, but this new study offers a new way to explore the surface of the Red Planet. This new data can offer exciting new insights into the composition of the planet and will likely have implications for further Mars exploration.
It is truly fascinating how these “green spots” could help to explain the past of the red planet. Further research and analysis of the data can uncover a deeper understanding of how Martian dust storms and other surface phenomena affect the planet’s environment, potentially leading to discoveries that may not have been possible before.
It is a truly exciting time for space exploration and the exploration of the planet Mars. It is also truly exciting to learn how NASA and others continue to research the vast red planet, helping scientists to uncover a deeper understanding of our Solar System and our universe.
