Scientists discover a ‘gigantic’ volcano on Mars with a surprising secret

• Scientists have discovered a colossal volcano on Mars called the Noctis Volcano.
• It stands at 29,600 feet tall and stretches 450 kilometers wide.
• The volcano’s existence was previously undetected due to erosion and Martian landscape challenges.

Location

• The Noctis Volcano is located just south of Mars’ equator in the Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus, west of the Valles Marineris, Mars’ vast canyon system.

Discovery

• Data from NASA’s Mariner 9, Viking Orbiter 1 and 2, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and ESA’s Mars Express missions were used.
• Despite its iconic location, the volcano had evaded detection due to its eroded state and the difficulty in spotting it against the Martian landscape.

Significance

• The Noctis Volcano is believed to have been active from ancient times until relatively recently, suggesting insights into Mars’ geologic and potential biologic history.
• The presence of buried glacier ice near the base of the volcano could harbor clues to past water activity and even life.

Implications for Astrobiology

• Volcanic regions like the Noctis Volcano could be key areas to search for past life on Mars.
• Volcanic activity can create hydrothermal systems, known to support life on Earth.

Future Exploration

• The Noctis Volcano’s location makes it a prime candidate for future exploration, offering a wealth of information about Mars’ past.
• The discovery points to the possibility of other similar features on Mars yet to be detected.

Conclusion

• The discovery of the Noctis Volcano underscores the importance of continued exploration of Mars, providing new data that can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and furthering our understanding of the Red Planet’s dynamic history.