Mars Lakes (IMAGE)

Penn State

Mars Lakes

Caption

Gale Crater on surface of Mars was once filled with liquid water for 10,000 to 10 million years, according to findings from the Mars Science Laboratory (MLS). A new study from Penn State scientists suggests dramatic climate cycles may have produced warm periods long enough to thaw the planet and create the water features on the surface today. Topographic evidence for lakes in Gale Crater, abstract, 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2013).

Credit

William Dietrich,

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