Nasa confirms water on Mars

Times of India ^ | 1.29.04 | Times of India

[ambrose]

Nasa confirms water on Mars

[ THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2004 04:45:50 AM ]

PASADENA, California: The "most striking image yet" from Nasa's Mars rovers reveals fine layers within bedrock, suggesting that the rock was formed by sediment swept down by ancient waters , the lead scientist for the mission said on Tuesday.

"Wonderful layer-cake structure here," said Ste-ven W. Squyres, a professor of astronomy at Cornell, the mission's principal science investigator.

Andrew H. Knoll of Harvard, a member of the mission team, said the layers could also have formed out of ash from successive volcanic eruptions. Scientists cannot tell from the photographs alone which explanation is more likely.

At first glance, the outcrop looks huge, like the rock formations of Yosemite National Park. The semicircle of rock, part of the rim of the small, shallow crater where the Opportunity landed, is about 30 yards long, but only a foot and a half high at most. The rover, when it gets there, will tower over the rocks.

"The rover drivers, when they first saw this, they went 'yikes!" Squyres said. "But when they realized the scale of those things, it was not quite the imposing obstacle it appeared to be."

The scientists also realized how small the layers are, each perhaps half an inch thick. "So that really places some constraints on what it could be," Dr. Squyres said.

The bedrock is believed to underlie the whole region where the Opportunity landed, known as Meridiani Planum and spanning tens of thousands of square miles.

Dr. Knoll said the vast expanse of rock led him to discount the possibility that the rocks formed out of sediment blown in by wind.

[JohnnyZ]

"The rover drivers, when they first saw this, they went 'yikes!"

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!

[VaBthang4]

Indian's are jumping the gun a bit arent they?

[The_Victor]

Andrew H. Knoll of Harvard, a member of the mission team, said the layers could also have formed out of ash from successive volcanic eruptions. Scientists cannot tell from the photographs alone which explanation is more likely.

This contradicts the title. If there is an alternate explanation, then it isn't "confirmation".

[martin_fierro]

(Shh! If anyone mentions "pitbull," this is going to Chat)

[Jonah Hex]

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!

Thank you, Dr. Dean.

[HarleyD]

"...suggesting that the rock was formed by sediment swept down by ancient waters...

Nowhere in the article does it say water was found. Only that "ancient waters" may have formed the sediments. I wonder why the title would be so misleading?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I won't believe that there is water on Mars until I see a tree growing there.

[Allegra]

"The rover drivers, when they first saw this, they went 'yikes!"

21st century-speak for "eureka!"

[RightWhale]

Headline is incorrect. No confirmation as yet from Opportunity. Besides, ESA has already confirmed this week, so the next weekly confirmation shouldn't be until next week.

[The_Victor]

Great minds....

Or maybe just anal retentive geeks :)

[sonofatpatcher2]

I just hope they find beer on Mars. That will get the ball rolling!

[CJ Wolf]

here you go: http://members.shaw.ca/science1/mars-trees/forest.htm

[thesummerwind]

I won't believe that there is water on Mars until I see a tree growing there.

A Martian took a leak.

Or, maybe it was Al Gore relieving himself after all that iced-tea.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The Mystery of John Carter of Mars

They are the creation of one man, Edgar Rice Burroughs

I enjoyed these stories in my youth but that is the only place trees grow on Mars.

[Daphne]

It would be a lot easier to confirm there's water on Mars if we actually found a way to GO there instead of sending these rovers.

I don't care what a rover sees, LET'S GO!

(I know it's easier said than done, but HOW much money do these people have?)

[Delta-Tango]

Ambrose, you are in BIG trouble. Check the rules! You CAN'T post info like this until you clear it with Art Bell.

Right now you are probably on Double Secret Probation....

Be more careful next time.....