River delta and ancient lake found on Mars

Scientists from NASA found further confirmation of the theory that Mars once had water. They are based on new images from the Perseverance rover, which is now in the Jezero crater.

The rover images show the crater ledges and a small hill called Kodiak. The photo allowed scientists to examine layers of rocks and sediments that are fully consistent with those on Earth, in places where there was once water. It is believed that Jezero itself was an ancient lake where the river flowed into.

The theory of a lake and a river delta in the northwestern part of the Jezero was put forward on the basis of orbital images. Scientists assumed that the 49 km wide crater was once actually filled with water. New research based on photos from Perseverance has finally confirmed this.

Scientists also noted that quite large stones and boulders are now scattered in the crater, some up to 1.5 meters wide. This suggests that the flood waters carried them from outside the crater. The team calculated that these waters should have moved at a speed of 6 to 30 km / h.

Other evidence suggests that the lake that filled Jezero was quite dynamic throughout its life, with water levels rising and falling between periods of flood and calm.

Now scientists plan to take soil samples with the help of a rover, which will later be delivered to Earth for detailed study and search for signs of ancient life. The finest-grained material at the bottom of the delta may show signs of organic matter and biosignatures, while boulders above will allow more ancient rocks to be explored.

Formerly Perseverance spent primary analysis of samples from the Jezero crater. These data made it possible to confirm that there really was "a long time" there was water - we are talking about tens of thousands or even millions of years.