THE EVER-CHANGING RED PLANET

Before the arrival of NASA’s Mariner 4, Mars was thought to be a world similar to Earth – possibly even harbouring alien life. Astronomers suggested that Mars was painted red because that was the colour of its vegetation, and that the streaks along the planet were canals of water – a popular theory proposed by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1877.

However, ever since Mariner 4’s arrival in 1965, Mars has been studied intensely, and astronomers have figured out that it is actually a barren wasteland. Continued exploration of Mars has shown it to have a deep, interesting history with amazing potential for terraforming. These exciting prospects have all come from the intense, around-the-clock observations of Mars by worldwide organisations.

MISSING METHANE

Methane is a simple molecule, and astronomers have been scouring Mars for decades