Antarctica - Terrestrial Analogue to Mars?
 Photo taken by professor Noel Potter, Dry Valleys, Antarctica. |
 Photo taken by Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, on Mars. |
 Photo taken by Professor Noel Potter, Dry Valleys, Antarctica. |
 Photo taken by Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit, on Mars. |
Look at the pictures on the left. These were taken by Geology Professor Noel Potter in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Now, compare this with what you see in the pictures on the right. These pictures were taken by the Mars Exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Notice the similarity in the shapes of the rocks in the landscape. Could it be that the same processes that shape the rocks in Antarctica are shaping the rocks on Mars?
Planetary Geologists look for terrestrial analogues - places or features on Earth that are similar to what they see on other planets. By studying the terrestrial analogues on Earth, geologists can gain insight into the processes at work on another planet.
What is a ventifact?
A ventifact is a stone that has received one or more highly
polished, flattened facets as a result of erosion by windblown sand. The facets
are cut in sequence and correlate with the dominant wind direction. As one
surface is cut, the stone may become out of balance and may turn to expose
another surface to the wind. The ventifacts in the photos below were collected
by Dr. Noel Potter from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The rocks you see in
the photos of the surface of Mars have been interpreted by geologists to be
ventifacts. Compare these Antarctic samples to the Martian photos and decide
for yourself!
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