Water Ice In Crater At Martian North Pole

European Space Agency ^ | July 28, 2005 | ESA

[Frank_Discussion]

The HRSC on ESA's Mars Express obtained this perspective view on 2 February 2005 during orbit 1343 with a ground resolution of approximately 15 metres per pixel. It shows an unnamed impact crater located on Vastitas Borealis, a broad plain that covers much of Mars's far northern latitudes, at approximately 70.5° North and 103° East.

The crater is 35 kilometres wide and has a maximum depth of approximately 2 kilometres beneath the crater rim. The circular patch of bright material located at the centre of the crater is residual water ice.

The colours are very close to natural, but the vertical relief is exaggerated three times. The view is looking east.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)

[Frank_Discussion]

Oh my. I think we may have a landing spot for manned landings.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Wow!

[rocksblues]

Residual water ice? Look out Martians! Aliens are on the way!!!!!!!!

[Tulane]

How long till we hear someone say that if we don't stop global warming, the earth will one day look like Mars?

Sorry to make it political...pretty cool picture.

[Frank_Discussion]

Wow^exp10, in my book.

This solves the "Where do we get our water?" question with a scientific sledgehammer.

That there is at least MILLIONS of metric tons of the wet stuff. ONE crater of many, many, many.

I have goosebumps. This simple, unassuming picture means a great deal.

[Kevin OMalley]

Cool. Where's the Starbucks? How much do they charge for that there ice water?

[Frank_Discussion]

The President's vision just got a little of Popeye's spinach.

[thoughtomator]

Yeah, time to colonize! That's all we need to get started!

[FreePaul]

Is there enough ice to make a martini? Or is that a Martiantini?

[lilylangtree]

Looks like a nest with a blue egg inside.

[Frank_Discussion]

About a hundred bil. ;)

[Frank_Discussion]

Yep. Water is Life. And Industry. And Chemistry. And Propulsion. And... just about everything.

[Frank_Discussion]

I dunno, but I could boil up a whole mess of hops and barley... ;)

[fish hawk]

Looks like whip cream to me. They better make sure.

[Frank_Discussion]

It's like an egg for more reasons than that... good observation.

[oldleft]

I think it's about time the US, EU, and Japan put together a team with the goal of continuous landings on Mars in 10 years. I would have no problem spending a few hundred of my tax dollars for that, as opposed to studying the mating habits of the green-eyed three pronged horny mosquito.

[Frank_Discussion]

Paint the Mars lander Cherry Red and plunk it right down in the middle!

[Tennessee_Bob]

IT'S AN EYEBALL!

[Frank_Discussion]

If the rest of the planet wants to pay their share and prove they can and will do so, great. If not, they can watch us.

[Frank_Discussion]

I think you're too close to the monitor... j/k