Jakarta –
Scientists have discovered volcano new giant on Planet Mars. Its size is very massive compared to any mountain on Earth. This volcano is about 450 kilometers wide and over 9,000 meters or 9 kilometers high. Its location is near the planet’s equator.
The team of scientists also saw the remains of a layer of glacier ice buried near the base of the volcano. They believe this could make the volcano a prime location for astrobiology research and the search for signs of alien life.
“This giant volcano and possible discovery of glacier ice is very important, because it represents an exciting new location for studying the geological evolution of Mars through time, searching for life, and conducting exploration with robots and humans in the future,” the scientists were quoted as saying. detikINET from Live Science.
Spacecraft orbiting Mars have actually been unknowingly photographing the volcano since NASA’s Mariner 9 was sent to the Red Planet in 1971. However, the volcano was eroded so deeply that it escaped radar.
“We were examining the geology of an area where we discovered the remains of a glacier last year when we realized that we were inside a large, badly eroded volcano,” said project leader Pascal Lee, a planetary scientist with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) ) Institute and Mars Institute.
The volcano, which has yet to be given an official name, is located in one of Mars’ most iconic regions, on the border between the maze-like Noctis Labyrinthus and the giant canyons of Valles Marineris. The volcano is believed to have been active from ancient times until recently, given its enormous size.
This volcano has a central peak area characterized by a raised and flat area called a mesa. The slopes around the mesa spread for 140 miles (225 km) in various directions. Near the center of the volcano, there appear to be the remains of a collapsed volcanic crater that once housed a lava lake. There are also remains of lava flows, as well as volcanic mineral deposits.
Many questions remain, including how long the volcano has been active and whether it is still active. If the volcano has been active for a long period of time, it is likely that the combination of continued warmth and water from the ice sheet beneath the volcano created the perfect conditions to support life.
Watch the video “Scientists Find Connection Between Earth and Mars”
(fyk/vmp)
2024-03-17 14:00:16
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