Meridiani Planum

Meridiani Planum is a plain located 2 degrees south of Mars’s equator (centered at 0.2°N 357.5°E), in the westernmost portion of Sinus Meridiani. It hosts a rare occurrence of gray crystalline hematite. On Earth, hematite is often formed in hot springs or in standing pools of water; therefore, many scientists believe that the hematite at Meridiani Planum may be indicative of ancient hot springs or that the environment contained liquid water.

Meridiani Planum