The Phoenix Mars Lander has announced the discovery of real ice on Mars! The news came via Twitter feed.
NASA has just a little bit more information. Some bright material that was photographed four days ago has disappeared, leading scientists to believe it was ice that vaporized when exposed.
"It must be ice," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice. There had been some question whether the bright material was salt. Salt can't do that."The chunks were left at the bottom of a trench informally called "Dodo-Goldilocks" when Phoenix's Robotic Arm enlarged that trench on June 15, during the 20th Martian day, or sol, since landing. Several were gone when Phoenix looked at the trench early today, on Sol 24.
There will be a press conference Friday at 1PM EDT with more details.
Wired posted the two photographs in gif form, so you can see the difference.
Best day ever? Wait til the little green men pop up and ticket you for tresspassing!
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It was either ice or alien salt. Either way, that's pretty cool. And I just watched "2001" last night so I've revved for some signs from aliens.
Ice on Mars... Is that sooo important? I mean, there are many ways to give a better use for all the money spent to send all this crap up there. All the crap that is sent up.
Instead of finding a way out for when the earth collapses, what about invest it here preventing the collapse... helping some countries that have a year budget 10x cheaper than the costs of one mission only...
A Brazilian singer, wrote a song, back in the 70/80's that said: "Ice on Mars, says the Viking, but I have no chicken in my backyard"
I spent most of yesterday staring at the two pictures that were used for comparison.
The 'bright' chunks that 'evaporated' were in the shadows. The 'bright' portions that were in the sunlight did not.
Ice evaporates in shadows on Mars but not in sunlight? Thats odd.
Does anyone have any information of the temperature when those photos were taken?