Planets and Moons ID: 11760

A Once-Blue Planet

Story by Elizabeth Zubritsky | Visualizations by Walt Feimer Released on March 31, 2015

Modern Mars is dry and dusty, but scientists have long suspected that water once flowed on the surface. The question has been: how much water? NASA scientists estimate that Mars used to have at least 5 million cubic miles of water. That's more than the volume of water found within Earth’s Arctic Ocean. If that much water were present on Mars today, it would cover 19 percent of the surface and reach a maximum depth of a mile. These results are based on detailed observations of two slightly different forms of water in Mars’ atmosphere. By comparing the findings for water on Mars today with water trapped in an ancient Mars meteorite, the scientists determined how much water escaped from the planet into space and, thus, how much water Mars likely had. Watch the video to learn more.

For More Information

NASA.gov

Story Credits

Lead Visualizer/Animator:
Walt Feimer (HTSI)

Visualizers/Animators:
Brian Monroe (USRA)
Michael Lentz (USRA)
Chris Smith (Self)

Lead Video Editor:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Video Editor:
Swarupa Nune (InuTeq)

Narration:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Narrator:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Producer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Lead Scientists:
Geronimo Villanueva (Catholic University of America)
Michael Mumma (NASA/GSFC)

Videographers:
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)
John Caldwell (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)

Lead Writer:
Elizabeth Zubritsky (ADNET)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11760

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons