By Sakshi Sah
Published Sep 07, 2024

Photo Credits: NASA

Where did water on Mars go? See 5 NASA pics as you know the Red Planet's history

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system, often referred to as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish appearance caused by iron oxide (rust) on its surface.

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Scientists believe Mars once had large amounts of water, but today, it’s largely dry.

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NASA’s photos reveal ancient riverbeds and lake basins on Mars.

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For decades, abundant research has suggested that rivers, lakes and seas once covered Mars billions of years ago.

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Most of Mars' water is likely frozen in its polar caps. If it all melted, it’s estimated that the planet could be covered by about 30 metres of water.

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At present, the surface of Mars is extremely dry because the atmosphere is too thin for liquid water to persist for long.

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Since Mars has surface gravity of just over a third of Earth’s, its crust is less dense and more porous than Earth's. Research suggests this allows more water to seep underground.

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Mars’ weak magnetic field allowed solar winds to strip away its atmosphere, causing the water to escape into space.

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Mars has a thin atmosphere, which contributes to its extremely cold and dry climate. This condition leads to rapid evaporation and loss of water from the surface.

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NASA missions like Perseverance are still searching for clues about the history of water on Mars.

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