NASA maps 13 Mars sites that may match a meteorite
NASA has released a global map of Mars showing 13 locations whose mineralogy and chemistry match Teghaza 001, one of the oldest Martian meteorites found on Earth. The map points to highlands in the southern hemisphere of Mars as potential origins. NASA says scientists cannot confirm the exact origin of any Martian meteorite, so the sites remain candidates rather than established sources. The findings were reported on 30 Oct.
Key facts
- The 13 candidate locations are identified by matching mineralogy and chemistry with the meteorite.
- The meteorite's clues point toward southern highland regions of Mars.
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Why it matters
The map offers a set of candidate regions to target in future Mars exploration of ancient terrain.
What changed
First published from NASA