Yellowknife Bay, Mars

Geologic feature of Yellowknife Bay known as Shaler - the outcrop displays prominent cross-bedding, a feature indicative of water flows

Yellowknife Bay is a geologic formation in Gale Crater on the planet Mars. NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover, named Curiosity, arrived at the low lying depression on December 17, 2012, 125 sols, or Martian days, into its 668-sol planned mission on the planet. Primary mission goals of the Mars Science Laboratory were to assess the potential habitability of the planet and whether or not the Martian environment is, or has ever been, capable of supporting life.[1]

The site was chosen after much study of the region by previous missions. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter observed morphological features created by the presence of liquid water, suggesting the presence of an ancient lake which could have sustained microbial life. The geologic depression takes its name from the city Yellowknife, capital of the Canadian Northwest Territories,[2] in honor of the 4 billion year old rock in the region surrounding the city, which matches the approximate age of the uncovered rock in Gale Crater.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference McLennan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Leifert was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Dovarganes, D (14 August 2012). "Yellowknife starry-eyed over NASA's Mars landing spot name". CBS. Retrieved 7 May 2014.