Read on Twitter
Every time they show that CRISM imagery of Jezero Crater, I get so giddy!
Jezero Crater! These features might look very familiar to you if you've ever seen a river delta before. That's bc these are the remnants of an ancient lake back when Mars used to have water. Sediments would build up over time leaving behind minerals like clays and carbonates.
We're able to detect these minerals using remote(orbital) and in-situ(surface) spectroscopy. The Jezero image was taken by an instrument onboard the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter)[left] called CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars)[right].
![We're able to detect these minerals using remote(orbital) and in-situ(surface) spectroscopy. The Jezero image was taken by an instrument onboard the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter)[left] called CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars)[right].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuiH1dnXEAkIM-2.jpg "We're able to detect these minerals using remote(orbital) and in-situ(surface) spectroscopy. The Jezero image was taken by an instrument onboard the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter)[left] called CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars)[right].")
![We're able to detect these minerals using remote(orbital) and in-situ(surface) spectroscopy. The Jezero image was taken by an instrument onboard the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter)[left] called CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars)[right].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuiH-GHXMAcVRrx.png "We're able to detect these minerals using remote(orbital) and in-situ(surface) spectroscopy. The Jezero image was taken by an instrument onboard the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter)[left] called CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars)[right].")
CRISM can detect reflected light from the surface in the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR), which can be used to identify various minerals spectrally and spatially. VNIR is used bc molecules vibe in NIR and atoms transfer electrons in VIS.
[left] Spectrally = look @ spectra(graph) to see what wavelength the molecules vibe and electrons transfer.
[right] Spatially = look @ image & use Red-Green-Blue combo to highlight regions that may contain these minerals.
Source: JHUAPL
![[left] Spectrally = look @ spectra(graph) to see what wavelength the molecules vibe and electrons transfer.[right] Spatially = look @ image & use Red-Green-Blue combo to highlight regions that may contain these minerals.Source: JHUAPL](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuiM2ZMXMAEQSBg.png "[left] Spectrally = look @ spectra(graph) to see what wavelength the molecules vibe and electrons transfer.[right] Spatially = look @ image & use Red-Green-Blue combo to highlight regions that may contain these minerals.Source: JHUAPL")
![[left] Spectrally = look @ spectra(graph) to see what wavelength the molecules vibe and electrons transfer.[right] Spatially = look @ image & use Red-Green-Blue combo to highlight regions that may contain these minerals.Source: JHUAPL](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuiM3yyXcAMX8Nw.png "[left] Spectrally = look @ spectra(graph) to see what wavelength the molecules vibe and electrons transfer.[right] Spatially = look @ image & use Red-Green-Blue combo to highlight regions that may contain these minerals.Source: JHUAPL")
[right] Spatially = look @ image & use Red-Green-Blue combo to highlight regions that may contain these minerals.
Source: JHUAPL
Using this method, we can identify most alteration minerals on the surface of Mars.
Alteration minerals = minerals that formed from primary minerals (Commonly found in volcanic rocks & meteorites) through weathering.
Source: Ehlmann & Edwards (2014)
Alteration minerals = minerals that formed from primary minerals (Commonly found in volcanic rocks & meteorites) through weathering.
Source: Ehlmann & Edwards (2014)
Why is Jezero Crater so special? Jezero is a paleolake (ancient lake). If Mars had the environment to harbor life, we could possibly see evidence of this at the base of its inflow (where the water flows into the lake).
Source: JPL
Source: JPL
How is that possible? Rock fragments transported by rivers reach the lake and accumulate at the bottom eventually forming sedimentary rocks.
Source: Integrated Science
Source: Integrated Science
As the sedimentary rocks form, any evidence left behind by pre-existing life is preserved. This can be in the form of carbon-bearing minerals known as carbonates.
Carbonates have been detected in Jezero Crater!
Carbonates have been detected in Jezero Crater!
Does that mean we've found life on Mars? Not necessarily. Carbonates can also form through abiotic (not life) processes. Also, it can be very difficult to determine if the carbonates formed from biotic (life) processes from satellite data. Enter Perseverance!
Percy can analyze the delta features in Jezero Crater up close and give us a more accurate assessment of these alteration minerals using instruments like SHERLOC. SHERLOC will be the key to finding organics on Mars.
Source: IEEE
Source: IEEE
