Posted on 09/30/2008 7:29:15 AM PDT by saganite
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth.
A laser instrument designed to gather knowledge of how the atmosphere and surface interact on Mars has detected snow from clouds about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) above the spacecraft's landing site. Data show the snow vaporizing before reaching the ground.
"Nothing like this view has ever been seen on Mars," said Jim Whiteway, of York University, Toronto, lead scientist for the Canadian-supplied Meteorological Station on Phoenix. "We'll be looking for signs that the snow may even reach the ground."
Phoenix experiments also yielded clues pointing to calcium carbonate, the main composition of chalk, and particles that could be clay. Most carbonates and clays on Earth form only in the presence of liquid water.
"We are still collecting data and have lots of analysis ahead, but we are making good progress on the big questions we set out for ourselves," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson.
Since landing on May 25, Phoenix already has confirmed that a hard subsurface layer at its far-northern site contains water-ice. Determining whether that ice ever thaws would help answer whether the environment there has been favorable for life, a key aim of the mission.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
A guy from the Weather Channel wearing a blue parka will be on camera shortly to report on the impending blizzard.
Huh?
If Jim Cantore shows up the lander is in trouble...
Waxing up my skis as we speak...
Especially if his girlfriend dumps him before he leaves for Mars!
No matter what the weather is doing on any day, cold, hot
or storming, it is blamed on global warming.
Amy Winehouse is on her way with a straw.
from water or from carbon dioxide?
Really?? I'm glad they explained that bit about the earth. The fascinating things you learn reading science articles. < /sarc >
DO Martian kids get the day off from school?
Cynthia McKinny would still like for them to ride over and check on where the astronauts planted the flag when they were there.
Didn’t miss your /s/ but had to wonder what it has to do with Mars. Since whoever wrote the article didn’t mention it and I didn’t I guess you felt the need for self fulfilling prophecy.
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