NASA releases new image of an impact crater on the surface of Mars. It's unlike any other


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NASA has spotted a new impact on the surface of Mars, and scientists have released an image of it showing some blue and purple.

The impact exposed the darker material beneath the planet's characteristic reddish dust, according to the HiRISE Camera website that released the image.

Veronica Bray, HiRISE team member and University of Arizona scientist, said the area could potentially indicate "water ice."

"But it's not always been confirmed, but often, when it is sometimes watered," Bray said in a statement to CNN.

But it might also be nothing

However, Leslie Tamppari, deputy project scientist for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, told CNN the blue color might turn out to be nothing.

"I do not know that we should read anything into it," Tamppari said. "They stretch these images." "It's all false color, not true color … (because) we do not have every wavelength covered."

The crater, about 16 meters wide, is estimated to be between September 2016 and February 2019. It is located just south of Valles Marineris canyon system.

Scientists have found hundreds of craters

Scientists have found more than 500 impact craters on the planet, Tamppari said. By studying these craters, they learn about the impact cratering process, statistics of small craters and the frequency of impacts.

"We've been surprised by how dynamic Mars is," Tamppari said. "We see active cratering going on all the time."

NASA orbiter spots & # 39; Star Trek & # 39; symbol on Mars

The Space Agency's March Recognition Orbiter captured the image on April 17. It was released to the public earlier this month. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter departed for the Red Planet in 2005 and has been studying it in March 2006.

Last week, the University of Arizona, which operates the HiRISE Camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, released an image of a strange chevron on Mars that resembles the symbol for Star Trek's Starfleet.
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