It's Martijuana smoke...
Posted on 10/26/2018 1:41:46 PM PDT by ETL
Although Mars' atmosphere is comprised of vastly different elements than Earth's and is approximately 100 times less dense than our own, the planet does have clouds. But one strange, curious cloud near a massive volcano is puzzling onlookers..."
The cloud, described as "curious" by the European Space Agency, was first spotted over the Arsia Mons volcano on the planet on Sept. 13 by the Mars Express spacecraft. The ESA does not believe it is a volcanic cloud since no volcano has been active on the planet in about 50 years, but rather they believe it is a water ice cloud.
"In spite of its location, this atmospheric feature is not linked to volcanic activity but is rather a water ice cloud driven by the influence of the volcano’s leeward slope on the air flow – something that scientists call an orographic or lee cloud – and a regular phenomenon in this region," the ESA said in a statement on its website.
The space agency noted that the cloud has grown and changed shape throughout the day. It grows "in length during local morning downwind of the volcano, almost parallel to the equator, and reaching such an impressive size that could make it visible even to telescopes on Earth," the ESA added.
Mars' winter solstice on its northern hemisphere occurred on Oct. 16 and the ESA noted that a "seasonally recurrent water ice cloud," like the aforementioned cloud, has formed along the southwestern flank of the volcano in the past. The Mars Express craft and others have actually observed the cloud in 2009, 2012 and 2015, the ESA said.
Despite the proclamation from the ESA, that has not stopped conspiracy theorists on the internet proclaiming it could be from the volcano or something else.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I'm not familiar with your author. I did enjoy Robinson's Red Green Blue Mars trilogy years ago.
Turd-owe has signed a deal with the Martians. Chief among the issues is legalizing pot on Mars. These photos obviously show that his negotiating was successful. </sarc>
Marsapiens maybe
Marsapiens maybe
The super covert Exo-Squad has dealt with the menace.
I can’t believe no one has said “Mars Fart” yet. You’re slipping people......
Darn, I was planning to visit and I was hoping it would be sunny!
“Mars Volcano Died at Same Time As Dinosaurs”
If I had more carefully read the main article that I posted, I would have realized the “cloud” had nothing to do with volcanic activity. Doing a million things at one time while preparing to leave house.
In any case, here’s a good explanation of what’s going on from yet another article...
“The 930 mile trail of vapor billowing over Arsia Mons was captured on photographs taken by the Mars Express orbiter on September 13.
Even though the vapor looks as if it were coming from the top of volcano, researchers at the European Space Agency believe this is simply an optical illusion, because Mars hasn’t seen a single eruption for millions of years.
What is it then?
Meteorologists call this phenomenon an orographic cloud, typically seen on the downwind side of mountains when dense air close to the surface flows uphill and expands as it cools, allowing moisture to condense on particles of dust.
Every few Earth years, clouds of water ice bloom as moisture-filled air moves up the volcano’s side. Similar images were taken by Mars Express in 2009, 2012, and 2015, seeing this again in 2018 is no surprise.”
https://sputniknews.com/science/201810261069238291-mars-cloud-volcano/
Marsupials?
I was referencing the 90s Exo-Squad show.
I love this article.... “Mysterious clouds” ... NOTHING TO SEE HERE!!!!
It is like saying you saw a clown drive by on a unicycle while juggling and the person says to you, “just another boring normal day”
Marsupials?
Could be that they are infested with rats like New York, DC, Sanfransisco and Paris
I’d put a cloud over my house if someone had their telescope pointed at me.
Doesn’t that mean they’ve elected a new pope?
Many gaseous molecules, not just H20, if warmer than an antmosphere will cool and condense into “clouds” as they are released into the atmosphere. I think at this point H2O is but a presumption, yet to be proven.
Could even be methane.
He’ll never make orbit in that huddle room!
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