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]

Mr. Whale, you have GOT to see this!

[Frank_Discussion]

Massive Pingage!

[SGCOS]

With some photo shop and a good camera, that could just as easily be a coco-puff falling into a bowl of milk.

&^)

[cripplecreek]

Personally I hope we start seeing rockets that are plastered with company logos like NASCAR cars.

[6SJ7]

Where there is water, there is life.

[Frank_Discussion]

"I'm cookoo for Martian residual water ice!"

[Prophet in the wilderness]

How far is the Spirit and Opportunity rovers from this crater ?

[epluribus_2]

SPACE HOCKEY! The time is NOW!

[Frank_Discussion]

You will.

[thoughtomator]

I think Europeans have done enough damage to this planet already, let's not infect a second one. The US and Japan and maybe India would be a fine team for this.

Of course the best part about colonizing Mars is that there will be no Muslims there to screw it up!

[Oberon]

...studying the mating habits of the green-eyed three pronged horny mosquito.

Somebody call me?

[johnny7]

To hell with THEM.

[Frank_Discussion]

Not sure, but I'd bet too far to get to it. It's a polar site, and the landers have all be near the equator, so I'd expect thousands of miles seperate the regions.

[Dashing Dasher]

[najida]

I didn't know your eyes were green!

[oldleft]

OK, how about just Poland and the UK? Maybe Italy. Of course, the US inexplicably has no heavy lift capability, so Russia may come in handy too.

[datura]

Why do I forsee the space equivalent of an RV dump and hookup? (The thought of 6 months worth of gray water going back into the soil there should drive the enviros nuts.)

[Tenacious 1]

Ice fishing anyone?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I wonder if NASA has already done their surveying of this sight on Mars ?
We won't know if it's truly water until they get a actual test sample of it.

[Kevin OMalley]

How much do you tip the waiter?

The timing of this announcement is very... fortuitous. It makes me wonder how long this has been known in the inside circles.