Carbonates on Mars

2004/01/12 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Geologia
• Astronautika

One of the two vehicles sent by NASA has already reached the surface of Mars. The vehicle Spirit has had no big problems to stay in the proper position and to deploy the necessary tools to work. Just to reach the surface, before beginning to move, he devoted himself to the study of the surrounding stones through a small spectroscope. The spectroscope analyzes the infrared waves and, through it, can determine the chemical composition of the stone.

The first stone thus studied is a carbonate. This result has led to a debate on water, since here, on Earth, carbonates are generated by the action of water, which, according to some researchers, shows that on Mars there is water. Possible liquid water.

However, astronomers are prudent and do not want to unite carbonates and liquid water. They consider that the water necessary for the formation of these rocks can also be of atmospheric origin, so the detection of carbonates does not mean that there has been liquid water on Mars.

In the image you can see the cover of Mars. The upper image is black and white and the lower one is infrared.

More photos taken by the Spirit robot are available in http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/.