--- title: See the Mysterious Photos of Water on Mars description: These are the first photos showing liquid water on Mars. NASA announced on Monday that evidence of liquid water had been found on the Red Planet canonical: https://time.com/4054228/photos-of-water-on-mars/ author: TIME Photo article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-29T20:10:47.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:01:26.529Z article:section: Science og:title: See the Mysterious Photos of Water on Mars og:description: These are the first photos showing liquid water on Mars og:url: https://time.com/4054228/photos-of-water-on-mars/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc1fc6970b2c9ebc2/6988660bf887dc72d3e92a0a/sept-2015-water-on-mars-17.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: sept-2015-water-on-mars-1 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: See the Mysterious Photos of Water on Mars twitter:description: These are the first photos showing liquid water on Mars twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc1fc6970b2c9ebc2/6988660bf887dc72d3e92a0a/sept-2015-water-on-mars-17.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # See the Mysterious Photos of Water on Mars by [TIME Photo](https://time.com/author/time-photo/) ## TIME Photo Sep 29, 2015 8:10 PM UTC  Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are a type of dark streak seen on Martian slopes and are thought to form from flow of liquid water. This image shows RSL in the Aram Chaos, acquired on Jan. 11, 2015. Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are a type of dark streak seen on Martian slopes and are thought to form from flow of liquid water. This image shows RSL in the Aram Chaos, acquired on Jan. 11, 2015.NASA/JPL/University of Arizona by [TIME Photo](https://time.com/author/time-photo/) ## TIME Photo Sep 29, 2015 8:10 PM UTC  Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are a type of dark streak seen on Martian slopes and are thought to form from flow of liquid water. This image shows RSL in the Aram Chaos, acquired on Jan. 11, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This image shows the central peak in Porter Crater, acquired on April 17, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  RSL may be due to active seeps of water. These dark flows are abundant along the steep slopes of ancient bedrock in Coprates Chasma. Acquired on Dec. 31, 2013. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Ravines (or very large gullies) are actively forming on Mars during the coldest times of year, when carbon dioxide frost aids mass wasting. In this image, acquired on March 25, 2015, we see warm-season flows in cold-season ravines. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  An image of the southeast rim of Hale crater, acquired on Nov. 13, 2014 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This RSL is one of the most active sites known on Mars in the central peaks of Hale Crater, acquired on Feb. 20, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  A RSL in Raga Crate, acquired on Feb. 9, 2015. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  A surprise landslump in Melas Chasma, acquired on Jan. 15, 2014. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  An image of the southeast rim of Hale crater, acquired on Nov. 13, 2014. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This image was acquired in southern winter over part of Asimov Crater, on March 15, 2014, showing the equator-facing slope of a deep trough inside the crater. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  RSL along Coprates Chasma Ridge, acquired on July 7, 2013. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Seasonal flows on Palikir Crater, a warm Martian slopes, that may be caused by the flow of salty water on Mars. Acquired on March 15, 2013 NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  RSL in Juventae Chasma, acquired on Jan. 18, 2013. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  This image displays a site along a Coprates Chasma ridge shows RSL on generally north-facing slopes, acquired on Oct. 20, 2012. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Right past the sharp, but warped rim of this ancient impact crater are deposits of winter frost, which show up as blue in enhanced color. Acquired on July 16, 2012. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona  Slope features seen on a wall in Newton crater acquired on May 30, 2011. 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