8th June, 2024
Dust storms and temperature swings are said to be common on Mars. As humans aim to explore the planet, a mysterious pit on the side of an ancient volcano on Mars has generated excitement amongst space enthusiasts.
Captured by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), the pit, located on the side of the now-extinct Arsia Mons volcano and only a few metres wide, was found in August of 2022.
More often than not, lava flowing away from a volcano forms large underground tubes that facilitate the movement of hot material. While these are common among the various openings on the sides of volcanoes, this particular one appears to be a vertical shaft. If confirmed, it might lead to a cavern or a cave system. If Mars is similar to the Moon or Earth, these empty lava tubes, called skylights, could provide refuge for human settlements on the barren planet.
However, an image of one of the pits shows a sidewall, indicating it is cylindrical and may not lead to a cave. Holes like these are called ‘pit craters’ and are quite common on Hawaiian volcanoes. On Earth, they range from six to 186 metres deep, while the Arsia Mons pit in the image is 178 metres deep. Pits like these intrigue scientists because they might provide clues about past life on Mars and help determine if microbial life still exists on the planet.
Source: indianexpress.com
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