Trending Now - Ancient Martian Valley Hints at Oceanic Existence on Mars
WHO:
Science Daily - Planetary scientists are studying the Shalbatana Vallis region on Mars.
The Daily Galaxy - The European Space Agency (ESA) is involved in capturing images of Mars.
WHAT:
Science Daily - Shalbatana Vallis is described as a striking mix of ancient flood scars, chaotic terrain, lava-smoothed plains, volcanic ash, and impact craters.
The Daily Galaxy - The dark material in the valley is believed to be volcanic ash transported by Martian winds, indicating past volcanic activity on Mars.
The Daily Galaxy - The valley may have once been deeper before being filled with sediment, dust, ash, and lava over geological time.
The Daily Galaxy - The dark material appears concentrated near a bulging structure, which may have formed from melting buried ice, leading to subsidence.
Science Daily - Shalbatana Vallis is a colossal valley near Mars’s equator, stretching roughly 1,300 kilometers.
The Daily Galaxy - A newly released image from ESA shows dark material in an ancient channel on Mars, indicating a waterway that existed billions of years ago.
The Daily Galaxy - The valley reaches approximately 6 miles wide and around 0.3 miles deep.
The Daily Galaxy - The dark material is believed to be volcanic ash transported by Martian winds.
WHERE:
Science Daily - Shalbatana Vallis is located near the equator of Mars.
The Daily Galaxy - The image focuses on the northern section of Shalbatana Vallis.
WHEN:
The Daily Galaxy - Shalbatana Vallis is believed to have formed roughly 3.5 billion years ago.
WHY:
Science Daily - The valley provides clues about Mars's watery and volcanic past, suggesting it may have been warmer and wetter.
The Daily Galaxy - Researchers suspect that intense floods occurred when underground water reservoirs burst onto the surface.
HOW:
The Daily Galaxy - The Mars Express spacecraft has been mapping Mars's surface, studying its atmosphere, and identifying minerals linked to ancient water activity for over two decades.
Science Daily - The valley was carved by enormous floods of groundwater that burst onto the surface, creating deep winding channels.
The Daily Galaxy - The imagery was produced using data from ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2003.
The Daily Galaxy - The dark material is thought to have been swept across the surface by powerful Martian winds.
(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:27 UTC)
Scientists have unveiled new insights about Shalbatana Vallis on Mars, describing it as a captivating blend of ancient flood scars, chaotic terrain, and volcanic features. The dark material found in the valley is thought to be volcanic ash carried by Martian winds, suggesting a history of volcanic activity, while evidence indicates that the valley may have once been deeper before sediment and lava filled it over time. For over two decades, the Mars Express spacecraft has been diligently mapping the Martian surface, studying its atmosphere, and identifying minerals associated with ancient water activity.
--
(UPDATED May 15, 2026 13:30 UTC)
Planetary scientists are currently studying the Shalbatana Vallis region on Mars, a colossal valley near the planet's equator that stretches roughly 1,300 kilometers and reaches about 6 miles wide and 0.3 miles deep. A newly released image from the European Space Agency reveals dark material in an ancient channel, believed to be volcanic ash transported by Martian winds, indicating that this area may have once hosted a waterway billions of years ago. Researchers suggest that Shalbatana Vallis was carved by enormous floods of groundwater, providing vital clues about Mars's warmer and wetter past, and the imagery was captured using data from ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since 2003.