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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Mysterious Methane of Mars
NASA ^ | December 22, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 12/24/2014 5:19:45 AM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: What's creating methane on Mars? Recent measurements from the robotic Curiosity rover currently rolling across Mars indicate a surprising 10-fold increase in atmospheric methane between measurements only months apart. Life is a major producer of methane on Earth, and so speculation is rampant that some sort of life -- possibly microbial life -- is creating methane beneath the surface of Mars. Other possibilities do exist, though, with a leading model being the sudden release of methane produced by the mixing of specific soil chemicals with underground water. Proposed origins of Martian methane are depicted in the featured illustration. The origin of Mars' methane is a very active area of research, with missions like Curiosity and India's Mars Orbiter Mission searching for clues by measuring methane abundance changes and possible byproducts of different methane-producing processes.

December 22, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; mars; methane; panspermia; science; thomasgold
[Illustration Credit: Methane Workshop, Frascati Italy, Villanueva et al. 2009, ESA Medialab, NASA]

1 posted on 12/24/2014 5:19:45 AM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
2015 APoD Calendar
The Big One

2 posted on 12/24/2014 5:20:26 AM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/ _____________________ Celebrate the Polls, Ignore the Trolls)
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To: SunkenCiv

3 posted on 12/24/2014 5:24:36 AM PST by Fido969 (What's sad is most)
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To: Fido969

First thing that came to my mind! LOL!


4 posted on 12/24/2014 6:15:08 AM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: Fido969

LOL

That or stealth cows farting.


5 posted on 12/24/2014 6:26:58 AM PST by TomGuy
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