MOLA Archives - Astrobiology

Mars topographic map showing the inventory of observed data relating to water flow effects.

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

A Global High-Resolution Hydrological Model to Simulate the Dynamics of Surface Liquid Reservoirs: Application on Mars

by Keith CowingMarch 6, 2026March 6, 2026

Surface runoff shapes planetary landscapes, but global hydrological models often lack the resolution and flexibility to simulate dynamic surface water bodies beyond Earth. Recent studies of Mars have revealed abundant […]

Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) map of Valles Marineris region with higher elevations in red and lower elevations in yellow, green and then blue tones. — Nature via PubMed

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Status Report

Characterization Of Ferric Hydroxysulfate On Mars And Implications Of The Geochemical Environment Supporting Its Formation

by Keith CowingAugust 16, 2025August 16, 2025

Sulfate minerals are significant components of the martian surface and provide clues about the martian geochemical environment.

Aram Chaos., Mars Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Press Release

A Unique Martian Mineral Offers Fresh Clues About Planet’s Past

by Keith CowingAugust 5, 2025August 5, 2025

New research published in Nature Communications identifies an iron sulfate on Mars that may represent a brand-new mineral.

Oblique view of part of a system of FSRs

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ancient River Systems Reveal Mars Was Wetter Than We Thought

by Keith CowingJuly 11, 2025July 11, 2025

The discovery of more than 15,000 kilometres of ancient riverbeds on Mars suggests that the Red Planet may once have been much wetter than previously thought.

Planning diagram showing variation in latitude range (between heavy black lines) vs. season (solar longitude, LS) for SHARAD standard VLR observations wherein all associated spacecraft maneuvers occur when the MRO spacecraft is in eclipse. Colors and lighter black lines show accessible terrains, keyed to investigations proposed for MRO Extended Mission 7. Polar regions are not accessible under these constraints. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report

SHARAD Illuminates Deeper Martian Subsurface Structures with a Boost from Very Large Rolls of the MRO Spacecraft

by Keith CowingJune 1, 2025June 1, 2025

Throughout its mission, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has often rolled about its along-track axis by up to 28° to partially compensate for the suboptimal location of the Shallow Radar […]