WikiVisually
The entire wiki reimagined as a visual magazine with video discovery · Watch your interests come alive
WikiVisually
The entire wiki reimagined as a visual magazine with video discovery · Watch your interests come alive
Nature The World Movies USA Top Art Fine & Rare History Ivy & Inquiry
Life on Mars
Videos
The possibility of life on Mars is a subject of interest in astrobiology due to the planet's proximity and similarities to Earth. To date, no conclusive evidence of past or present life has been found
Mars canals illustrated by astronomer Percival Lowell, 1898
Mars canals illustrated by astronomer Percival Lowell, 1898
Alga crater is thought to have deposits of impact glass that may have preserved ancient biosignatures, if present during the impact.
Alga crater is thought to have deposits of impact glass that may have preserved ancient biosignatures, if present during the impact.
Martian terrain
Martian terrain
A series of artist's conceptions of past water coverage on Mars
A series of artist's conceptions of past water coverage on Mars
Noachian
Videos
The Noachian is a geologic system and early time period on the planet Mars characterized by high rates of meteorite and asteroid impacts and the possible presence of abundant surface water. The absolu
Life on Mars
…similarities to Earth. To date, no conclusive evidence of past or present life has been found on Mars. Cumulative evidence suggests that during the ancient Noachian time period, the surface environment of Mars had liquid water and may have been habitable for microorganisms, but habitable conditions do not necessarily…
HiRISE image illustrating superpositioning, a principle that lets geologists determine the relative ages of surface units. The dark-toned lava flow ov
HiRISE image illustrating superpositioning, a principle that lets geologists determine the relative ages of surface units. The dark-toned lava flow overlies (is younger than) the light-toned, more heavily cratered terrain (older lava flow?) at right. The ejecta of the crater at center overlies both units, indicating that the crater is the youngest feature in the image. (See schematic cross section, right.)
Geologic contact of Noachian and Hesperian Systems. Hesperian ridged plains (Hr) embay and overlie older Noachian cratered plains (Npl). Note that the
Geologic contact of Noachian and Hesperian Systems. Hesperian ridged plains (Hr) embay and overlie older Noachian cratered plains (Npl). Note that the ridged plains partially bury many of the old Noachian-aged craters. Image is THEMIS IR mosaic, based on similar Viking photo shown in Tanaka et al. (1992), Fig. 1a, p. 352.
Artist's impression of an early wet Mars. Late Hesperian features (outflow channels) are shown, so this does not present an accurate picture of Noachi
Artist's impression of an early wet Mars. Late Hesperian features (outflow channels) are shown, so this does not present an accurate picture of Noachian Mars, but the overall appearance of the planet from space may have been similar. In particular, note the presence of a large ocean in the northern hemisphere (upper left) and a sea covering Hellas Planitia (lower right).
Delta in Eberswalde Crater, seen by Mars Global Surveyor.
Delta in Eberswalde Crater, seen by Mars Global Surveyor.