Mars Once Had Vast Oceans, Scientists Reveal New Evidence

• Scientists from Italy and Switzerland used satellite data to identify new evidence of a vast ancient ocean on Mars.
• The study focused on fan-shaped landforms in Coprates Chasma within Valles Marineris, resembling Earth's river deltas.
• These delta-like deposits consistently sit at a specific elevation, allowing researchers to estimate an ancient shoreline.
• The inferred ocean, comparable to Earth's Arctic Ocean, is estimated to be around 3 billion years old and covered much of Mars's northern hemisphere.
• This discovery strengthens the idea of a warm, wet ancient Mars and identifies potential targets for future missions searching for signs of ancient life.

Why It Matters: New evidence suggests Mars once harbored a vast, ancient ocean, offering clues about its past habitability.