Camera High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) that exist on Mars Reconaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured the image of the streaks on steep crater on Mars. Scientists believe, strokes are a sign of the presence of water that flows like a river.
"This is water present, is not contained in the past," said Alfred McEwen, an expert in planetary science from the University of Arizona involved the study. He said in a NASA press conference held on Thursday (04/08/2011). "The most plausible explanation of the observations so far is the flow of salty water," McEwen continued.
Nevertheless, he hastens to assert that the observations are published today in the journal Science this is not evidence of direct water stream. However, alternative explanations besides there is still no running water.
"Comparing with the Earth, it is difficult to explain that the streaks are formed from the flow of other substances. The question is, does this happen on Mars, and if so, why only in certain places," said Richard Zurek, MRO project manager from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
McEwen explained, from strokes that left, it appears that the water flow has a high viscosity, making it more similar to the flow of syrup. However, McEwen said, "We do not yet know the salinity, or salinity of the flowing water."
Strokes it is a seasonal strokes that formed in the summer made dark appearance and seemed to disappear in winter. Scars are found in 7 locations in 20 locations and possibly others. One of them is around the crater Newton. Each location has approximately 1000 discovery of strokes when seen shaped like a finger.
Lisa M Pratt, an expert on biogeochemical from Indiana Univerity said, strokes that could potentially be found living residence, if any. On Earth, microbes can live in salt water that never freezes, or even dormancy on frozen water.
"This is highly speculative because we do not know if there are organisms there, or whether it never existed before," Pratt said as quoted by the New York Times today.
Strokes on a Martian crater was first observed by students of University of Arizona, Lujendra Ojha. He is studying a small change on the planet Mars when it finally discover the structure of these strokes.
"I was confused when he first saw the picture after I processed with algaritma," said Ojha. "But we finally realized that it is the structure sketch is different from that found previously. We see that this seasonal structure and can grow up to 200 meters in 2 months," continued Ojha.
Confirmation of the structure of strokes that were dark with Reconaissance Compact Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) did not show signs of the presence of water flow directly. But, this does not preclude the flow of water that dry quickly or only in small amounts in the sub-surface.
Explain the appearance of wrinkles, dark and ability to change into bright, McEwen said, "Scars were dark not because of the flow of water-soaked. The flow of salt water could reconstitute the granules or alter the surface roughness so it appears dark. How bright streaks appear again when the temperature falls , there has been no explanation. "
McEwen said, "It's still a mystery today. But I think this is a mystery that can be solved with further research."
