# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DKZ3C70Mrn3
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582119-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f9f617f5c7.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-02T15:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

What’s sweeping across the slopes of Olympus Mons on Mars? 🔴

This striking image, taken by our CaSSIS camera on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, reveals curious streaks marking the terrain — as if someone had brushed the surface with a giant cosmic broom. But what’s behind them?

Scientists have been intrigued by these slope streaks for decades. Some believed they were signs of salty water flows, sparking hopes of habitable zones on the Red Planet. But a new study offers a different explanation.

Using machine learning to analyse nearly half a million streaks in satellite images, researchers found no signs of water. Instead, they suggest these features are dry dust avalanches, triggered by falling rocks, wind gusts or even small meteoroid impacts.

It’s a major update to one of Mars’ longest-standing mysteries and brings us closer to understanding the planet’s dynamic surface.

What do you think these streaks look like? Let us know in the comments 👇

📸 europeanspaceagency; creativecommons by-SA 3.0 IGO

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 7,420
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 27

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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