U.S. and Japan have both revealed plans to send manned mission to Mars in the next few decades and once man successfully lands on the surface of this planet, more earthlings may be able to visit and possibly even live in Mars in the future.
The red planet is far different when compared to the planet Earth but while it may be a new and strange terrain to explore, future interplanetary travelers visiting Mars may already get an idea what to expect from it with the creation of what is now considered as the most detailed map of the planet Mars.
The United States Geological Survey, or USGS, released on Monday, July 14, the most detailed map of the red planet to date. The new map, which can be viewed and downloaded from the USGS website, was created based on over 16 years of data collected from four spacecraft including NASA's Mars Odyssey, Mars Global Surveyor, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Express of the European Space Agency.
Kenneth Tanaka, from the USGS, said that the decades long spacecraft exploration of the red planet has paved way to a better understanding of the geological events, processes and materials that have shaped the surface of Mars.
"This global map builds upon previous mapping results and provides new findings and synthesizes other research regarding the geology of Mars, based largely on spacecraft data obtained since the late 1990s," Tanaka and colleagues wrote.
Besides showcasing Mars' geological terrain in various colors which provide clues on the geological processes behind the planet's landscape, the map also shows that the surface of the planet is older than what was previously believed. It also showed that Mars remains geologically active and provided evidence that changes in Mars' climate support the temporary formation of water and ice on the planet.
Scientists likewise said that the map would serve as a vital source of information for individuals who want to learn things about Mars such as its age, origin and geologic materials.
USGS acting director Suzette Kimball said that information that can be found on the newly released map will allow researchers to assess prospective landing sites for missions on Mars that could provide a better understanding of the red planet's history. She also said that the map will be of help to researchers for many years to come.
"The new Mars global geologic map will provide geologic context for regional and local scientific investigations for many years to come," Kimball said.
