Gale is a
crater, and probable
dry lake
A dry lake bed, also known as a playa, is a basin or depression that formerly contained a standing surface water body, which disappears when evaporation processes exceeds recharge. If the floor of a dry lake is covered by deposits of alkaline c ...
, at in the northwestern part of the
Aeolis quadrangle
The Aeolis quadrangle is one of a series of 30 quadrangle maps of Mars used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Research Program. The Aeolis quadrangle is also referred to as MC-23 (Mars Chart-23).
The Aeolis quadrangle co ...
on
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
. It is in diameter
and estimated to be about 3.5–3.8 billion years old.
The crater was named after
Walter Frederick Gale
Walter Frederick Gale (27 November 1865 – 1 June 1945) was an Australian banker. Gale was born in Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales. He had a strong interest in astronomy and built his first telescope in 1884.
He discovered a number of c ...
, an
amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy is a hobby where participants enjoy observing or imaging celestial objects in the sky using the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Even though scientific research may not be their primary goal, some amateur astronomers m ...
from
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
, Australia, who observed Mars in the late 19th century.
Aeolis Mons
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomen ...
is a mountain in the center of Gale and rises high.
Aeolis Palus is the plain between the northern wall of Gale and the northern foothills of Aeolis Mons.
Peace Vallis
Peace Vallis is an ancient stream valley on the northern rim of Gale Crater on the planet Mars. It is notable for its associated alluvial fan which lies near the Mars Science Laboratory ''Curiosity'' landing site (Bradbury Landing). The valley ...
,
a nearby
outflow channel
Outflow channels are extremely long, wide swathes of scoured ground on Mars. They extend many hundreds of kilometers in length and are typically greater than one kilometer in width. They are thought to have been carved by huge outburst floods.
...
, 'flows' down from the hills to the Aeolis Palus below and seems to have been carved by flowing
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
.
Several lines of evidence suggest that a lake existed inside Gale shortly after the formation of the crater.
The NASA
Mars rover
A Mars rover is a motor vehicle designed to travel on the surface of Mars. Rovers have several advantages over stationary landers: they examine more territory, they can be directed to interesting features, they can place themselves in sunny pos ...
''Curiosity'', of the
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, landed in "Yellowknife" ''Quad 51''
of
Aeolis Palus in Gale at 05:32 UTC August 6, 2012.
NASA named the landing location
Bradbury Landing
Bradbury Landing is the August 6, 2012, landing site within Gale crater on planet Mars of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) ''Curiosity'' rover. On August 22, 2012, on what would have been his 92nd birthday, NASA named the site for author Ra ...
on August 22, 2012.
''Curiosity'' is exploring Aeolis Mons and surrounding areas.
Description
Gale, named for
Walter F. Gale (1865–1945), an amateur astronomer from Australia, spans in diameter and holds a mountain, Aeolis Mons (informally named "Mount Sharp" to pay tribute to geologist
Robert P. Sharp
Robert Phillip Sharp (24 June 1911 – 25 May 2004) was an American geomorphologist and expert on the geological surfaces of the Earth and the planet Mars. Sharp served as the chairman of the Division of Geological Sciences at California Ins ...
) rising from the crater floor, higher than
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier (), indigenously known as Tahoma, Tacoma, Tacobet, or təqʷubəʔ, is a large active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, located in Mount Rainier National Park about south-southeast of Seattle. With a s ...
rises above Seattle. Gale is roughly the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The crater formed when an
asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
or
comet
A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...
hit Mars in its early history, about 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago. The
impactor punched a hole in the terrain, and the subsequent explosion ejected rocks and soil that landed around the crater. Layering in the central mound (Aeolis Mons) suggests it is the surviving remnant of an extensive sequence of deposits. Some scientists believe the crater filled in with sediments and, over time, the relentless Martian winds carved Aeolis Mons, which today rises about above the floor of Gale—three times higher than the Grand Canyon is deep.
At 10:32 p.m. PDT on August 5, 2012 (1:32 a.m. EDT on August 6, 2012), the Mars Science Laboratory rover ''Curiosity'' landed on Mars at , at the foot of the layered mountain inside Gale. ''Curiosity'' landed within a landing ellipse approximately by . The landing ellipse is about below Martian "sea level" (defined as the average elevation around the equator). The expected near-surface atmospheric temperatures at the landing site during ''Curiosity''s primary mission (1 Martian year or 687 Earth days) are from .
Scientists chose Gale as the landing site for ''Curiosity'' because it has many signs that water was present over its history. The crater's geology is notable for containing both clays and sulfate minerals, which form in water under different conditions and may also preserve signs of past life. The history of water at Gale, as recorded in its rocks, is giving ''Curiosity'' many clues to study as it pieces together whether Mars ever could have been a habitat for microbes. Gale contains a number of fans and deltas that provide information about lake levels in the past, including: Pancake Delta, Western Delta, Farah Vallis delta and the Peace Vallis Fan.
Geology
Orbital
THEMIS
In Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Themis (; grc, Θέμις, Themis, justice, law, custom) is one of the twelve Titans, Titan children of Gaia and Uranus (mythology), Uranus, and the second wife of Zeus. She is the godde ...
and topography data, plus visible and
near-infrared
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of Light, visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from ...
images, were used to make a
geologic map
A geologic map or geological map is a special-purpose map made to show various geological features. Rock units or geologic strata are shown by color or symbols. Bedding planes and structural features such as faults, folds, are shown with st ...
of the crater.
CRISM
The Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) is a visible-infrared spectrometer aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter searching for mineralogic indications of past and present water on Mars. The CRISM instrument team compris ...
data indicated the lower
bench unit was composed of interstratified
clay
Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4).
Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...
and
sulfate
The sulfate or sulphate ion is a polyatomic anion with the empirical formula . Salts, acid derivatives, and peroxides of sulfate are widely used in industry. Sulfates occur widely in everyday life. Sulfates are salts of sulfuric acid and many ar ...
s. Curiosity explored the stratigraphy of the crater consisting of the Bradbury
Group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic ide ...
and the overlying Mount Sharp Group.
Formations within the Bradbury Group include the Yellowknife and Kimberley, while the Murray Formation is at the base of the Mount Sharp Group. The Bradbury Group consists of
fluvial
In geography and geology, fluvial processes are associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them. When the stream or rivers are associated with glaciers, ice sheets, or ice caps, the term glaciofluvial or fluviog ...
conglomerates,
cross-bedded sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
s, and
mudstone
Mudstone, a type of mudrock, is a fine-grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Mudstone is distinguished from '' shale'' by its lack of fissility (parallel layering).Blatt, H., and R.J. Tracy, 1996, ''Petrology. ...
s reflecting a
basaltic
Basalt (; ) is an aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon. More than 90% of a ...
provenance
Provenance (from the French ''provenir'', 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody or location of a historical object. The term was originally mostly used in relation to works of art but is now used in similar senses i ...
. Sandstone clinoforms indicate
deltaic deposit
A river delta is a landform shaped like a triangle, created by deposition (geology), deposition of sediment that is carried by a river and enters slower-moving or stagnant water. This occurs where a river enters an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, res ...
s. The Murray Formation is a laminated mudstone overlain by a cross-bedded or clinoform sandstone, though in places the base is a conglomerate. Thus, the formation is interpreted to have been deposited in a
lacustrine
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
environment adjacent to a fluvial-deltaic one. The Murray Formation is overlain by clay and sulfate-bearing strata.
An unusual feature of Gale is an enormous mound of "sedimentary debris"
around its central peak, officially named
Aeolis Mons
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomen ...
(popularly known as "Mount Sharp"
) rising above the northern crater floor and above the southern crater floor—slightly taller than the southern rim of the crater itself. The mound is composed of layered material and may have been laid down over a period of around 2 billion years.
The origin of this mound is not known with certainty, but research suggests it is the eroded remnant of sedimentary layers that once filled the crater completely, possibly originally deposited on a lakebed.
Evidence of fluvial activity was observed early on in the mission at the Shaler outcrop (first observed on Sol 120, investigated extensively between Sols 309-324). Observations made by the rover ''Curiosity'' at the Pahrump Hills strongly support the lake hypothesis: sedimentary
facies
In geology, a facies ( , ; same pronunciation and spelling in the plural) is a body of rock with specified characteristics, which can be any observable attribute of rocks (such as their overall appearance, composition, or condition of formatio ...
including sub mm-scale horizontally-laminated mudstones, with interbedded fluvial
crossbeds are representative of sediments which accumulate in lakes, or on the margins of lakes which grow and contract in response to lake-level. These lake-bed mudstones are referred to as the
Murray Formation
The Murray Formation is the name given to a distinctive mudstone geologic formation studied by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity at the Gale Crater, Mars.
Stratigraphy
The formation is more than thick and is part of the Mount Sharp Gro ...
, and form a significant amount of the Mount Sharp group. The Siccar Point group (named after the famous unconformity at
Siccar Point
Siccar Point is a rocky promontory in the county of Berwickshire on the east coast of Scotland.
It is famous in the history of geology for Hutton's Unconformity found in 1788, which James Hutton regarded as conclusive proof of his uniformitar ...
) overlies the Mount Sharp group, and the two units are separated by a major
unconformity
An unconformity is a buried erosional or non-depositional surface separating two rock masses or strata of different ages, indicating that sediment deposition was not continuous. In general, the older layer was exposed to erosion for an interval o ...
which dips toward the North. At present, the Stimson formation is the only stratigraphic unit within the Siccar Point group which has been investigated in-detail by ''Curiosity''. The Stimson formation represents the preserved expression of a dry
aeolian dune field
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
, where sediment was transported towards the north, or northeast by palaeowinds within the crater.
In the Emerson plateau area (from Marias Pass, to East Glacier), the outcrops are characterised predominantly by simple cross-sets, deposited by simple sinuous-crested dunes, with heights up to ~10 m.
To the south, at the Murray buttes, the outcrop are characterised by compound cross-sets, with a hierarchy of bounding surfaces migration of small dunes superimposed on the lee-slope of a large dune known as a "
draa
:''Dra is also the abbreviation for the constellation Draco.''
The Draa ( ber, Asif en Dra, ⴰⵙⵉⴼ ⴻⵏ ⴷⵔⴰ, ary, واد درعة, wad dərʿa; also spelled Dra or Drâa, in older sources mostly Darha or Dara) is Morocco's longest ...
".
These
draas have estimates heights of ~40 m, and migrated toward the north, while superimposed dunes migrated toward the east-northeast.
Further to the south, at the Greenheugh pediment, compound and simple cross-sets consistent with aeolian depositional processes have been observed in the pediment capping unit. Observations made during the ascent of the Greenheugh pediment between Sols 2665-2734 demonstrated that the pediment capping unit has sedimentary textures, facies and architecture that are consistent with the rest of the Stimson formation. Furthermore, analysis of sedimentary facies and architecture provided evidence which indicates fluctuating wind directions, from a seasonal temporal scale - recorded by interstratified windripple and avalanche strata, through to millennial time scales recorded by reversal of the sediment transport direction. These wind reversals suggest variable and changeable atmospheric circulation during this time.
Observations of possible cross-bedded strata on the upper mound suggest
aeolian processes
Aeolian processes, also spelled eolian, pertain to wind activity in the study of geology and weather and specifically to the wind's ability to shape the surface of the Earth (or other planets). Winds may erode, transport, and deposit materials ...
, but the origin of the lower mound layers remains ambiguous.
In February 2019, NASA scientists
reported that the
Mars ''Curiosity'' rover had determined, for the first time, the
density
Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often used for density is ''ρ'' (the lower case Greek letter rho), although the Latin letter ''D'' can also be used. Mathematical ...
of
Mount Sharp
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale (crater), Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of ...
in Gale, thereby establishing a clearer understanding of how the mountain was formed.
Gale is located at about on Mars.
Spacecraft exploration
Numerous channels eroded into the flanks of the crater's central mound could give access to the layers for study.
Gale is the landing site of the ''
Curiosity
Curiosity (from Latin '' cūriōsitās'', from ''cūriōsus'' "careful, diligent, curious", akin to ''cura'' "care") is a quality related to inquisitive thinking such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident by observation in humans ...
'' rover, delivered by the
Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a robotic spacecraft, robotic space probe mission to Mars launched by NASA on November 26, 2011, which successfully landed ''Curiosity (rover), Curiosity'', a Mars rover, in Gale (crater), Gale Crater on August ...
spacecraft, which was launched November 26, 2011 and landed on Mars inside the crater Gale on the plains of
Aeolis Palus on August 6, 2012.
Gale was previously a candidate landing site for the 2003
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission was a robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, ''Spirit (rover), Spirit'' and ''Opportunity (rover), Opportunity'', exploring the planet Mars. It began in 2003 with the launch of the two rover ...
mission, and has been one of four prospective sites for
ESA
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...
's
ExoMars
ExoMars (Exobiology on Mars) is an astrobiology programme of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The goals of ExoMars are to search for signs of past life on Mars, investigate how the Martian water and geochemical environment varies, investigate ...
.
In December 2012, scientists working on the Mars Science Laboratory mission announced that an extensive
soil analysis of
Martian soil
Martian soil is the fine regolith (a blanket of unconsolidated, loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock) found on the surface of Mars. Its properties can differ significantly from those of terrestrial soil, including its to ...
performed by ''Curiosity'' showed evidence of
water molecules
Water () is a polar inorganic compound that is at room temperature a tasteless and odorless liquid, which is nearly colorless apart from an inherent hint of blue. It is by far the most studied chemical compound and is described as the "univer ...
,
sulphur
Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formula ...
and
chlorine
Chlorine is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate betwee ...
, as well as hints of
organic compounds
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The s ...
.
However,
terrestrial
Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth.
Terrestrial may also refer to:
* Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on or near the ground, as opposed to ...
contamination, as the source of the organic compounds, could not be ruled out.
On September 26, 2013, NASA scientists reported that ''Curiosity'' detected "abundant, easily accessible"
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
(1.5 to 3 weight percent) in
soil samples at the
Rocknest region of
Aeolis Palus in Gale.
In addition, the rover found two principal soil types: a fine-grained
mafic type and a locally derived, coarse-grained
felsic type.
The mafic type, similar to other
martian soil
Martian soil is the fine regolith (a blanket of unconsolidated, loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock) found on the surface of Mars. Its properties can differ significantly from those of terrestrial soil, including its to ...
s and
martian dust
Martian soil is the fine regolith (a blanket of unconsolidated, loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock) found on the surface of Mars. Its properties can differ significantly from those of terrestrial soil, including its to ...
, was associated with hydration of the amorphous phases of the soil.
Also,
perchlorates
A perchlorate is a chemical compound containing the perchlorate ion, . The majority of perchlorates are commercially produced salts. They are mainly used as oxidizers for pyrotechnic devices and to control static electricity in food packaging. Pe ...
, the presence of which may make detection of life-related
organic molecule
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The s ...
s difficult, were found at the ''Curiosity'' landing site (and earlier at the more polar site of the
Phoenix lander
''Phoenix'' was an uncrewed space probe that landed on the surface of Mars on May 25, 2008, and operated until November 2, 2008. ''Phoenix'' was operational on Mars for Timekeeping on Mars#Sols, sols ( days). Its instruments were used to asse ...
) suggesting a "global distribution of these salts".
NASA also reported that
Jake M rock, a rock encountered by ''Curiosity'' on the way to
Glenelg, was a
mugearite
Mugearite () is a type of oligoclase-bearing basalt, comprising olivine, apatite, and opaque oxides. The main feldspar in mugearite is oligoclase.
Mugearite is a sodium-rich member of the alkaline magma series. In the TAS classification of volc ...
and very similar to terrestrial mugearite rocks.
On December 9, 2013, NASA reported that, based on evidence from ''Curiosity'' studying Aeolis Palus, Gale contained an ancient
freshwater lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
which could have been a hospitable environment for
microbial life
A microorganism, or microbe,, ''mikros'', "small") and ''organism'' from the el, ὀργανισμός, ''organismós'', "organism"). It is usually written as a single word but is sometimes hyphenated (''micro-organism''), especially in olde ...
.
On December 16, 2014, NASA reported detecting, by the ''Curiosity'' rover at Gale, an unusual increase, then decrease, in the amounts of
methane
Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The relative abundance of methane on Eart ...
in the
atmosphere
An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A s ...
of the planet
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
; in addition,
organic chemical
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The st ...
s were detected in powder drilled from a
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
. Also, based on
deuterium
Deuterium (or hydrogen-2, symbol or deuterium, also known as heavy hydrogen) is one of two Stable isotope ratio, stable isotopes of hydrogen (the other being Hydrogen atom, protium, or hydrogen-1). The atomic nucleus, nucleus of a deuterium ato ...
to
hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen is the lightest element. At standard conditions hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula . It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, an ...
ratio studies, much of the
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
at Gale on Mars was found to have been lost during ancient times, before the lakebed in the crater was formed; afterwards, large amounts of water continued to be lost.
On October 8, 2015, NASA confirmed that lakes and streams existed in Gale 3.3 to 3.8 billion years ago delivering sediments to build up the lower layers of
Mount Sharp
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale (crater), Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of ...
.
On June 1, 2017, NASA reported that the ''Curiosity'' rover provided evidence of an ancient lake in Gale on
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
that could have been favorable for
microbial life
A microorganism, or microbe,, ''mikros'', "small") and ''organism'' from the el, ὀργανισμός, ''organismós'', "organism"). It is usually written as a single word but is sometimes hyphenated (''micro-organism''), especially in olde ...
; the ancient lake was
stratified
Stratification may refer to:
Mathematics
* Stratification (mathematics), any consistent assignment of numbers to predicate symbols
* Data stratification in statistics
Earth sciences
* Stable and unstable stratification
* Stratification, or st ...
, with shallows rich in
oxidants
An oxidizing agent (also known as an oxidant, oxidizer, electron recipient, or electron acceptor) is a substance in a redox chemical reaction that gains or " accepts"/"receives" an electron from a (called the , , or ). In other words, an oxi ...
and depths poor in oxidants; and, the ancient lake provided many different types of microbe-friendly environments at the same time. NASA further reported that the ''Curiosity'' rover will continue to explore higher and younger layers of
Mount Sharp
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale (crater), Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of ...
in order to determine how the lake environment in ancient times on Mars became the drier environment in more modern times.
On August 5, 2017, NASA celebrated the fifth anniversary of the ''Curiosity'' rover mission landing, and related exploratory accomplishments, on the planet
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
.
(Videos
''Curiosity'' First Five Years (02:07)''Curiosity'' POV: Five Years Driving (05:49)''Curiosity'' Discoveries About Gale Crater (02:54)
On June 7, 2018,
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
's ''Curiosity'' made two significant discoveries in Gale.
Organic molecule
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. The s ...
s preserved in 3.5 billion-year-old bedrock and seasonal variations in the level of
methane
Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The relative abundance of methane on Eart ...
in the atmosphere further support the theory that past conditions may have been conducive to life.
It is possible that a form of water-rock chemistry might have generated the methane, but scientists cannot rule out the possibility of biological origins. Methane previously had been detected in Mars' atmosphere in large, unpredictable plumes. This new result shows that low levels of methane within Gale repeatedly peak in warm, summer months and drop in the winter every year. Organic carbon concentrations were discovered on the order of 10 parts per million or more. This is close to the amount observed in Martian meteorites and about 100 times greater than prior analysis of organic carbon on Mars' surface. Some of the molecules identified include thiophenes, benzene, toluene, and small carbon chains, such as propane or butene.
On November 4, 2018, geologists presented evidence, based on studies in Gale by the ''Curiosity'' rover, that there was plenty of
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
on early
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury (planet), Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Mars (mythology), Roman god of war. Mars is a terr ...
.
In January 2020, researchers have found certain minerals, made of carbon and oxygen, in rocks at Gale Crater, which may have formed in an ice-covered lake during a cold stage between warmer periods, or after Mars lost most of its atmosphere and became permanently cold.
On November 5, 2020, researchers concluded based on data observed by ''Curiosity'' rover that Gale crater experienced megafloods which occurred around 4 billion years ago, taking into consideration
antidunes
An antidune is a bedform found in fluvial and other channeled environments. Antidunes occur in supercritical flow, meaning that the Froude number is greater than 1.0 or the flow velocity exceeds the wave velocity; this is also known as upper flow ...
reaching the height of , which were formed by flood waters at least deep with a velocity of .
Images
Image:Daybreak at Gale Crater.jpg, Mars between day and night, with an area containing Gale crater, beginning to catch the morning light
Image:Schiaparelli 1889 versus Mars crop.jpg, Maps of Mars - old and new - Gale is noted in the middle of the image
Image:MSL landing sites topograph.png, Map of actual (and proposed) rover landing sites including Gale
Image:Elysium Planitia topo.jpg, Map of Elysium Planitia
Elysium Planitia, located in the Elysium and Aeolis quadrangles, is a broad plain that straddles the equator of Mars, centered at . It lies to the south of the volcanic province of Elysium, the second largest volcanic region on the planet, a ...
- Gale is in the lower left - Aeolis Mons
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomen ...
is in the middle of the crater
Image:Aeolis map.JPG, Map of Aeolis quadrangle
The Aeolis quadrangle is one of a series of 30 quadrangle maps of Mars used by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Research Program. The Aeolis quadrangle is also referred to as MC-23 (Mars Chart-23).
The Aeolis quadrangle co ...
- Gale is in the upper left - Aeolis Mons is in the middle of the crater
Image:PIA19674-Mars-GaleCrater-SurfaceMaterials-20150619.jpg, Gale crater - surface materials (false colors; THEMIS
In Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Themis (; grc, Θέμις, Themis, justice, law, custom) is one of the twelve Titans, Titan children of Gaia and Uranus (mythology), Uranus, and the second wife of Zeus. She is the godde ...
; 2001 Mars Odyssey
''2001 Mars Odyssey'' is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars. The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, with an expected cost for the entire mission of US$297 million. Its mission is to use spectr ...
)
Image:Mars Science Laboratory landing ellipse reduced.jpg, Gale crater landing site is within Aeolis Palus near Aeolis Mons - north is down.
Image:PIA19080-MarsRoverCuriosity-AncientGaleLake-Simulated-20141208.jpg, Ancient Lake fills Gale Crater on Mars (simulated view).
Image:PIA17596-MarsCuriosityRover-AncientLake-20131209.jpg, Estimated size of ancient lake on Aeolis Palus in Gale
Image:PIA16158-Mars Curiosity Rover-Water-AlluvialFan.jpg, Peace Vallis
Peace Vallis is an ancient stream valley on the northern rim of Gale Crater on the planet Mars. It is notable for its associated alluvial fan which lies near the Mars Science Laboratory ''Curiosity'' landing site (Bradbury Landing). The valley ...
and alluvial fan
An alluvial fan is an accumulation of sediments that fans outwards from a concentrated source of sediments, such as a narrow canyon emerging from an escarpment. They are characteristic of mountainous terrain in arid to semiarid climates, but a ...
near the ''Curiosity'' rover landing ellipse and site (noted by +)
Image:Curiosity landing site (artist's rendition with 2x vertical exaggeration).jpg, Gale crater - landing site is noted - also, alluvial fan
An alluvial fan is an accumulation of sediments that fans outwards from a concentrated source of sediments, such as a narrow canyon emerging from an escarpment. They are characteristic of mountainous terrain in arid to semiarid climates, but a ...
(blue) and sediment layers in Aeolis Mons (cutaway)
Image:Topography gravity gale crater.jpg, Gale crater - topographic
Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps.
Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary scie ...
and gravity field
In physics, a gravitational field is a model used to explain the influences that a massive body extends into the space around itself, producing a force on another massive body. Thus, a gravitational field is used to explain gravitational phenome ...
maps - landing site is noted
Mars gravity model 2011
Image:Moundshigh.jpg, Aeolis Mons
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomen ...
may have formed from the erosion of sediment layers that once filled Gale.
Image:Gale crater layers.JPG, Gale sediment layers may have formed by lake or windblown particle deposition.
Image:Gale Crater Grand Canyon.JPG, Gale's "Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon (, yuf-x-yav, Wi:kaʼi:la, , Southern Paiute language: Paxa’uipi, ) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a m ...
", as seen by HiRISE
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is a camera on board the ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' which has been orbiting and studying Mars since 2006. The 65 kg (143 lb), US$40 million instrument was built under the direction o ...
- scale bar is 500 meters long
Image:PIA16064-Mars Curiosity Rover Treasure Map.jpg, ''Curiosity'' landing site (green dot) - blue dot marks " Glenelg Intrigue" - blue spot marks base of Aeolis Mons - a planned area of study
Image:Curiosity Rover Landing Site - Quadmapping Yellowknife.jpg, ''Curiosity'' landing site - " quad map" includes "Yellowknife" ''Quad 51'' of Aeolis Palus in Gale crater
Image:Mars Curiosity Rover - Yellowknife Landing Site.jpg, ''Curiosity'' landing site - "Yellowknife" ''Quad 51'' (1-mi-by-1-mi) of Aeolis Palus in Gale
Image:PIA15696-HiRISE-MSL-Sol11 2 -br2.jpg, MSL debris field viewed by HiRISE
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is a camera on board the ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' which has been orbiting and studying Mars since 2006. The 65 kg (143 lb), US$40 million instrument was built under the direction o ...
on August 17, 2012 - parachute is from the rover
Rover may refer to:
People
* Constance Rover (1910–2005), English historian
* Jolanda de Rover (born 1963), Dutch swimmer
* Rover Thomas (c. 1920–1998), Indigenous Australian artist
Places
* Rover, Arkansas, US
* Rover, Missouri, US
* ...
Mars Science Laboratory: Multimedia-Images
/ref> (3-D
rover
&
parachute
Image:Curiosity Rover (Exaggerated Color) - HiRISE - 20120814.jpg, ''Curiosity'' landing site ("Bradbury Landing
Bradbury Landing is the August 6, 2012, landing site within Gale crater on planet Mars of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) ''Curiosity'' rover. On August 22, 2012, on what would have been his 92nd birthday, NASA named the site for author Ra ...
") viewed by HiRISE
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is a camera on board the ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' which has been orbiting and studying Mars since 2006. The 65 kg (143 lb), US$40 million instrument was built under the direction o ...
( MRO) (August 14, 2012)
Image:PIA17085-MarsCuriosityRover-TraverseMap-Sol351-20130801.jpg, First-year and first-mil
traverse map
of ''Curiosity'' on Mars (August 1, 2013)
3-D
Image:PIA19400-MarsCuriosityRover-GaleCrater-Sunset-20150415.jpg, Sunset - Gale crater
Gale is a crater, and probable dry lake, at in the northwestern part of the Aeolis quadrangle on Mars. It is in diameter and estimated to be about 3.5–3.8 billion years old. The crater was named after Walter Frederick Gale, an amateur ast ...
(April 15, 2015)
Image:PIA19401-MarsCuriosityRover-GaleCrater-Sunset-Animation-20150415.gif, Sunset (animated) - Gale crater (April 15, 2015)
Surface images
Image:673885main PIA15986-full full.jpg, Aeolis Palus and Aeolis Mons
Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons (), is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale crater and is located around , rising high from the valley floor. Its ID in the United States Geological Survey's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomen ...
in Gale as viewed by ''Curiosity
Curiosity (from Latin '' cūriōsitās'', from ''cūriōsus'' "careful, diligent, curious", akin to ''cura'' "care") is a quality related to inquisitive thinking such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident by observation in humans ...
'' (August 6, 2012)
Image:First two full-resolution images from the Curosity rover.jpg, The rim and floor of Gale as viewed by ''Curiosity'' (August 9, 2012)
Image:676029main pia16052-color-full full.jpg, Gale rim about north of ''Curiosity'' (August 9, 2012)
Image:PIA16105 malin04ano-br2.jpg, Layers at the base of Aeolis Mons - dark rock in inset is same size as ''Curiosity'' ( white balanced image)
Image:PIA16068 - Mars Curiosity Rover - Aeolis Mons - 20120817.jpg, Aeolis Mons in Gale as viewed by ''Curiosity'' (August 9, 2012) ( white balanced image)
Image:PIA16134-Mars Curiosity Rover Wheels.jpg, Wheels
A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be ...
on ''Curiosity'' - Aeolis Mons is in the background (MAHLI
The Mahli are a community in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha
Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th ...
, September 9, 2012).
Image:PIA16204-MarsCuriosityRover-Rocknest-20120928.jpg, ''" Rocknest"'' sand patch in Gale - between "Bradbury Landing
Bradbury Landing is the August 6, 2012, landing site within Gale crater on planet Mars of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) ''Curiosity'' rover. On August 22, 2012, on what would have been his 92nd birthday, NASA named the site for author Ra ...
" and Glenelg (September 28, 2012)
Interactive Mars map
See also
References
External links
Google Mars scrollable map- centered on Gale Crater
Gale Crater - ''Curiosity'' rover "StreetView" (Sol 2 - 08/08/2012) - NASA/JPL - 360° panoramafrom 360pano.eu
*
Gale Crater - Central Debris Moundfrom lpl.arizona.edu
Gale Crater - Layersfrom lpl.arizona.edu
from mars.asu.edu (Zoomable)
small
Gale Crater - Surroundingsfrom HRSCview.fu-berlin.de
Gale Crater - 3D version by ESAVideo (04:32) - Evidence: Water "Vigorously" Flowed On Mars - September, 2012*
*
{{Portal bar, Solar System, Astronomy, Biology
Aeolis quadrangle
Impact craters on Mars
Mars Science Laboratory
Rocks on Mars
Water on Mars