During the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held in The Woodlands, Texas, scientists unveiled a groundbreaking discovery: a colossal volcano and potentially a buried glacier ice sheet in the eastern sector of Mars’ Tharsis volcanic province, situated near the planet’s equator.

Despite being imaged repeatedly by spacecraft orbiting Mars since Mariner 9 in 1971, the immense volcano remained obscured by extensive erosion, eluding recognition for decades within one of Mars’ most renowned areas, positioned between the intricately fractured Noctis Labyrinthus (Labyrinth of the Night) and the grand canyons of Valles Marineris (Valleys of Mariner).

Tentatively referred to as the “Noctis volcano” until an official designation is assigned, this structure is positioned at 7° 35′ S, 93° 55′ W.

It towers at an elevation of +9022 meters (29,600 feet) and spans a width of 450 kilometers (280 miles).

The colossal dimensions of the volcano, coupled with its complex history of modifications, suggest it has been active over an extensive period, Phys.org reported.

Within its southeastern sector lies a thin layer of recent volcanic deposits, beneath which it is speculated glacier ice may still persist.

This dual revelation of a massive volcano and the potential presence of glacier ice holds considerable significance.

It offers a promising new locale for investigating Mars’ geological evolution across epochs, probing for signs of life, and charting avenues for future exploration by both robotic missions and human expeditions.

Written by B.C. Begley