Allow an Aries his fixation

The greatest joy in life, for me, is the delight of discovery. Just as we are continually uncovering the rich complexity of this world, we now have a whole new planet being revealed. Just wait until we can operate with equal 'comfort' on Venus and the Jovian moons.

Martian Clays Tell Story of a Wet Past
Layers of clay-rich rock have been found in Mars' Mawrth Vallis, a potential landing site for future rovers.
This work, published in the August 8 issue of Science, suggests that abundant water was once present on Mars and that hydrothermal activity may have occurred.

The Mawrth Vallis outflow channel is a feature in Mars' northern highland region, a heavily cratered, ancient area of the Red Planet whose geology is a time capsule offering revelations to those who can read it. A team of researchers led by planetary scientist Janice Bishop of the SETI Institute has used the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) to examine infrared light reflected from clays situated in the many-kilometer wide channel. Mawrth Vallis resembles a dried-up, broad river valley through which water may have flowed.

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