Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Features called recurrent slope lineae (RSL) have been spotted on some Martian slopes in warmer months. Some scientists think RSL could be seasonal flows of salty water. Red arrows point out one 0.75-mile-long (2 kilometers) RSL in this image taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona

In the “what are they?” department of strangeness.

Over the past several years, Mars-orbiting spacecraft have spotted dark, fingerlike features that scientists call “recurring slope lineae,” or RSL for short. These are dark flows, possibly caused by liquid water, found at many locations throughout low and middle latitudes on Mars.

Yet another eye-catching manifestation on Mars is the “slope streak,” which can propagate down steep slopes on the Red Planet. Slope streaks could be caused by dust avalanches, scientists say – but maybe not.

For my new Space.com story go to:

Mars Mystery: Does Flowing Water Cause Red Planet’s Dark Streaks?
by Leonard David, Space.com’s Space Insider Columnist
April 03, 2015 07:00am ET

http://www.space.com/29007-mars-dark-streaks-mystery-water.html

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