NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered buried evidence of an ancient river delta beneath Jezero Crater, indicating that water once flowed on Mars.
This discovery came to light through "RIMFAX," a ground-penetrating radar instrument that scanned the layers hidden beneath the Martian surface during the rover's travels.
Scientists believe that these subsurface structures could be among the most ancient and well-preserved traces of flowing water identified on Mars to date.
The radar detected sedimentary layers extending to a depth of approximately 115 feet, helping researchers reconstruct Mars' hidden geological and watery past.
These buried delta deposits may have formed when rivers supplied water to a lake located within Jezero; that is, approximately 3.7 to 4.2 billion years ago.
The newly discovered subsurface delta appears to be older than the previously studied surface features. This suggests multiple phases of ancient water activity at Jezero.
Jezero Crater remains a prime target because ancient river sediments can trap and preserve chemical evidence of past life.
Perseverance gathered this evidence while traversing that crater, making it clear that Mars still conceals major secrets beneath its dusty soil.
These research results further strengthen the notion that early Mars was warmer, wetter, and more habitable than the cold planet of today.
This persistence is greatly helping scientists understand where to look next for traces of ancient ecosystems.