The Instagram page of the European Space Agency (ESA) is no less than a treasure trove for those who love to know about space. Whether it is updates about our solar system or information about cosmic bodies located millions of light years away, the posts on this page often surprise people.
The recent picture of the ‘smiling scary smiley’ on the surface of Mars is something like this. The pictures shared by ESA are of chloride salt deposits which reveal more about the history of the Red Planet.
ESA has written in its caption- ‘Why so serious? Mars, once a world of rivers, lakes and possibly oceans, is now revealing its secrets through chloride salt deposits found by our ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. Overall, the smiley-like appearance on the surface of Mars is a chloride salt deposit.
It further reads, ‘These salt deposits, the remains of ancient water bodies, indicate habitable areas billions of years ago. The discovery of nearly a thousand potential sites provides new insight into the climate of Mars and the possibilities of past life. Explore the landscape of Mars in this picture. Apart from the smiley, there are many other pictures of Mars in the post.
Since being shared, the viral post has garnered nearly 9,000 likes – and the number is counting. It has also garnered a number of comments. One Instagram user wrote, “The first one reminds me of Jack Skeleton.” Another said, “This is so beautiful.”
Let us tell you that ESA’s Exobiology on Mars Program (ExoMars Program) was launched with two missions ‘the first, the Trace Gas Orbiter, was launched in 2016, while the second, carrying the Rosalind Franklin rover, is scheduled to launch in 2028. Together, they will address whether there was ever life on Mars.’
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)