Scientists at the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Texas have made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars. They have uncovered a massive volcano, named Noctis, spanning a staggering 280 miles in width. The volcano, which reaches heights of up to 29,600 feet, was hidden near the red planet’s equator, next to a buried ice glacier.
This incredible finding offers a new and exciting location for potential research on Mars and may even serve as a destination for future robotic or even human exploration. The volcano, believed to have been active from ancient to recent times, has possible remnants of glacier ice near its base.
The study detailing this discovery was conducted by the SETI Institute and the Mars Institute, with the findings shedding light on a region known as the boundary between Noctis Labyrinthus and Valles Marineris. Despite being imaged multiple times by spacecraft since 1971, the site was not easily recognized due to deep erosion.
Not only does the Noctis volcano provide a new avenue for investigating the possibility of life on Mars, but it also reveals a large area of volcanic deposits that include a field of “rootless cones” formed by explosive steam venting. It remains unclear if the volcano is still active and could potentially erupt in the future.
Located on the eastern edge of a topographic rise known as Tharsis, where three other massive volcanoes reside, the Noctis volcano opens up a wealth of opportunities for further study and exploration on Mars, which lies approximately 140 million miles away from Earth. The discovery marks a significant step in our understanding of the red planet and its geological history.
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