1 - Presence of Water Ice

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered vast amounts of ice in Mars' polar regions.

2 - Similar Day Length and Seasons

A day on Mars (called a sol) is just 40 minutes longer than an Earth day

3 - Methane in the Atmosphere

NASA's Curiosity Rover detected seasonal spikes in methane, which could be a sign of microbial life.

4 - Ancient River Valleys and Lakes

Satellite imagery shows networks of valleys and lake beds, indicating water flowed on Mars billions of years ago.

5 - Potential for Subsurface Life

Some scientists hypothesize that microbial life could exist deep underground, where water might still be liquid.