JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Sutton Island Model of Drying Lakes (Animation)

Oct 07, 2019
This animation demonstrates the salty ponds and streams that scientists think may have been left behind as Gale Crater dried out over time.

Click here for animation

This animation demonstrates how streams may have flowed from Mount Sharp to the floor of Gale Crater, where salty ponds may have been left behind as the region dried out over time.

Rocks enriched with mineral salts discovered by NASA's Curiosity at a location on Mount Sharp called "Sutton Island" suggest that water vanished slowly, rather than all at once, possibly returning to the area in a persistent cycle of drying and overflow. This discovery serves as a watermark for when the Martian climate was gradually getting drier.

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
  • Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover
Credit
ASU Knowledge Enterprise Development (KED), Michael Northrop

Keep Exploring

Curiosity's View of Benches on Mars

Housedon Hill Mosaic Taken by Curiosity's ChemCam

Curiosity's Selfie at the Mary Anning location on Mars

Curiosity Spots a Dust Devil in the Hills

A Dramatic View of Mars' Mount Sharp

Curiosity Captures a Spaghetti Western Landscape on Mars

Curiosity's Rock Collection as of July 2020

Curiosity Finds Nodules near the Top of Pediment Slope

Curiosity's View From the Top of the Greenheugh Pediment

Curiosity's Path to the Sulfate-Bearing Unit

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono