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Mysterious cloud over Mars puzzles onlookers, invites conspiracy theories
FoxNews.com/Science ^ | Oct 26, 2018 | Chris Ciaccia | Fox News

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 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: catastrophism; cultofmars; globalwarminghoax; mars; nasa
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To: NorthMountain
"...whose only expertise seems to be political corruption."
How true!

I'm not familiar with your author. I did enjoy Robinson's Red Green Blue Mars trilogy years ago.

41 posted on 10/26/2018 3:07:25 PM PDT by citizen (President Trump: HeÂ’s combined The Art of the Deal with AlinskyÂ’s Rules For Radicals. Game over.)
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To: ETL

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>


42 posted on 10/26/2018 3:07:27 PM PDT by A Formerly Proud Canadian (I once was blind but now I see...)
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To: wally_bert
Neosapiens....

Marsapiens maybe

43 posted on 10/26/2018 3:08:05 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: wally_bert
Neosapiens....

Marsapiens maybe

44 posted on 10/26/2018 3:08:06 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: mountainlion

The super covert Exo-Squad has dealt with the menace.


45 posted on 10/26/2018 3:10:36 PM PDT by wally_bert (I will competently make sure the thing is done incompetently.)
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To: ETL

I can’t believe no one has said “Mars Fart” yet. You’re slipping people......


46 posted on 10/26/2018 3:11:55 PM PDT by MomwithHope
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To: ETL

It's Martijuana smoke...


      

47 posted on 10/26/2018 3:15:44 PM PDT by Songcraft
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To: ETL

Darn, I was planning to visit and I was hoping it would be sunny!


48 posted on 10/26/2018 3:16:25 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: All
Re: Here (in this other article linked above) they say the volcano was/is long extinct...

“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/

49 posted on 10/26/2018 3:16:47 PM PDT by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
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To: mountainlion; wally_bert
Marsapiens maybe

Marsupials?

50 posted on 10/26/2018 3:17:43 PM PDT by BlueLancer (Orchides Forum Trahite - Cordes Et Mentes Veniant)
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To: BlueLancer

I was referencing the 90s Exo-Squad show.


51 posted on 10/26/2018 3:22:15 PM PDT by wally_bert (I will competently make sure the thing is done incompetently.)
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To: BlueLancer; mountainlion; wally_bert
Marsupials?

Image result for mars kangaroo

52 posted on 10/26/2018 3:32:28 PM PDT by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
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To: ETL

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”


53 posted on 10/26/2018 3:34:59 PM PDT by GraceG ("If I post an AWESOME MEME, STEAL IT! JUST RE-POST IT IN TWO PLACES PLEASE")
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To: ETL

Marsupials?

Could be that they are infested with rats like New York, DC, Sanfransisco and Paris


54 posted on 10/26/2018 3:49:34 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: ETL

I’d put a cloud over my house if someone had their telescope pointed at me.


55 posted on 10/26/2018 3:55:36 PM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know. how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: ETL

Doesn’t that mean they’ve elected a new pope?


56 posted on 10/26/2018 4:39:42 PM PDT by bluejean (I'm becoming a cranky old person. It really annoys me.)
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To: ETL
Martian contributing to the Global Warming of Mars... 😁
57 posted on 10/26/2018 4:47:53 PM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-))
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To: ETL
Martian contributing to the Global Warming of Mars... 😁
58 posted on 10/26/2018 4:47:56 PM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-))
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To: ETL

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.


59 posted on 10/26/2018 5:06:41 PM PDT by Wuli
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To: Snickering Hound

He’ll never make orbit in that huddle room!


60 posted on 10/26/2018 5:32:05 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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