NASA has been monitoring Mars for years — we’ve had rovers on mars since 1997, and satellites have been orbiting the planet for even longer. We’ve also been aware of the presence of water on the planet for a while now. At that point we were only aware of frozen water, accumulating on the ground, and in large ice caps. Recently, however, NASA made a massive discovery — they have found evidence of the fact that liquid water still flows on the surface of Mars today.

Imaging satellites around Mars have detected long, darkish strips, seeming to flow from a central crater. These strips seem to be fluidic, slowing and stopping in the cold, running smoothly in warmth, and move down slopes. Mars have suspected these markings to be liquid water for some time, but recently evidence has come out to validate it — the detection of hydrated minerals on these slopes. NASA has concluded that these areas are likely small strips of briny water flowing across the martian surface.

For now, NASA’s scientists plan to continue to monitor this potential water from a distance, taking images and keeping track of it. Eventually, NASA would like to get closer to the water with a rover, but in their current state, the rovers are unsafe for this mission. Flowing, liquid water means the potential for life, and without more thorough cleansing, the rovers currently on mars could infect whatever that life may be. NASA hopes to send another rover within the next few years, properly equipped to examine this water.

This is a huge finding, and it opens a lot of interesting doors for the future. What does this mean for the exploration of Mars? What does this say about the potential for life, or the past geography of Mars? It’s exciting to think about what this could hold for our understanding of the red planet.