A recent 360-degree panorama taken by the Perseverance Rover on Mars has sparked curiosity among NASA scientists, as it bears a striking resemblance to Earth’s skies. However, a subtle tweak to the color contrast reveals the stark differences between the two planets.
Planetary scientist Jim Bell explains that the dust-free skies provide a clear view of the surrounding terrain. By enhancing the color contrast, the differences in the terrain and sky are accentuated. The resulting landscape is surprisingly familiar, with jagged rocks, ripples of sand, and rolling hills reminiscent of the Atacama desert.
NASA scientists are now testing future rovers in Chile’s Atacama desert, where they have already detected molecular evidence of life in one of the most biologically sparse environments on Earth. The goal is to replicate similar feats on Mars, but seeing the planet through an Earthly lens can be misleading.
Mars receives significantly less sunlight than Earth and has a much thinner atmosphere. While the possibility of ancient life existing under these hostile conditions remains uncertain, instruments like Percy’s could potentially uncover new insights.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/mars-looks-strangely-familiar-in-stunning-new-panorama