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The Mars Rover of ESA Receives an Updated Map
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars rover, named Rosalind Franklin, is set to launch no earlier than 2028. The rover’s destination is Oxia Planum, a region rich in clay-bearing minerals to the east of Chryse Planitia on Mars. This site is of particular interest due to its geological features dating back to Mars’ Noachian Period, indicating the presence of past surface water, a key element in the search for evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet.
Rosalind Franklin’s mission objectives align closely with NASA’s Perseverance rover, focusing on the search for fossilized evidence of past life on Mars. The rover is equipped with advanced instruments, including a sampling drill capable of penetrating up to two meters into the Martian soil, far surpassing the capabilities of previous missions like Perseverance.
To ensure the success of the mission, the ESA selected Oxia Planum as the landing site for Rosalind Franklin. This area is not only flat, providing a safe landing zone, but also contains abundant hydrated minerals, making it a prime location to search for potential signs of ancient life. A team of European scientists has meticulously mapped out the geological features of Oxia Planum, relying on data collected by orbiting spacecraft over four years.
The detailed map of Oxia Planum reveals 15 distinct geological units with unique characteristics that will guide the rover’s exploration and sampling activities. This comprehensive map will help the rover team interpret the surrounding landscape and identify potential sites for drilling that could contain evidence of primitive life.
The sediments at Oxia Planum are nearly four billion years old, making this location the oldest site ever targeted for exploration by a rover. The map not only aids in navigation through challenging terrain but also plays a crucial role in informing strategic decisions on where to collect samples for analysis.
The detailed mapping of Oxia Planum was facilitated by the collaboration of 80 volunteers during the COVID-19 lockdowns, with data from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter contributing to the effort. The resulting map showcases the geological diversity of the region, providing insights into Mars’ ancient history and evolution over billions of years.
The high-resolution map of Oxia Planum serves as a visual representation of our current understanding of Martian geology and will guide the rover’s exploration as it searches for clues about the planet’s past habitability and potential for ancient life. As the mission progresses, the rover’s findings will be compared to existing hypotheses, leading to a deeper understanding of Mars’ geological history and increasing the chances of uncovering evidence of past life.
In essence, the new geological map of Oxia Planum is a crucial tool for the Rosalind Franklin mission, offering a roadmap for scientific discovery and laying the groundwork for groundbreaking discoveries on Mars. The meticulous planning and detailed mapping underscore the commitment of the ESA to unraveling the mysteries of the Red Planet and shedding light on its potential as a habitat for life in the distant past.
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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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