spacetoday.net: Spacecraft finds more evidence for Mars water

Posted: Fri, Feb 16, 2007, 10:51 AM ET (1551 GMT)
$MRO image of halos in rock fractures (NASA/JPL/Univ. of Arizona)$ Scientists analyzing some of the first images returned by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft have found geological features that appear to have been formed early in the planet's history by liquid water. In a paper published in the journal Science, scientists reported the discovery of "halos", or bands of light-colored material along rock fractures, a feature that in terrestrial rock formations is created when water flows the fracture, depositing minerals which stand out in contrast to the darker color of the rock. Scientists said they were not absolutely sure liquid water caused the halos seen in the MRO images, only that a liquid of gas of some kind, but liquid water was clearly identified as the leading candidate. If it was water, scientists said that it could have created billions of years ago conditions that could support microbial life.