news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4727847.stm


Ice lake found on the Red Planet



A giant patch of frozen water has been pictured nestled within an unnamed impact crater on Mars.

The photographs were taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board Mars Express, the European Space Agency probe which is exploring the planet.

The ice disc is located on Vastitas Borealis, a broad plain that covers much of Mars' far northern latitudes.

The existence of water on Mars raises the prospect that past or present life will one day be detected.

It also boosts the chances that manned missions can eventually be sent to the Red Planet.

Highly visible

The highly visible ice is sitting in a crater which is 35 km (23 miles) wide, with a maximum depth of about two km (1.2 miles).

Scientists believe the water ice is present all year round because the temperature and pressure are not sufficient to allow it to change states.

Researchers studying the images are sure it is not frozen carbon dioxide (CO2), because CO2 ice had already disappeared from the north polar cap at the time the image was taken.

The team have also been able to detect faint traces of water ice along the rim of the crater and on the crater walls.

Mars is covered with deep gorges, apparently carved out by rivers and glaciers, although most of the water vanished millions of years ago.

Earlier this year, the European Space Agency detected what they called a huge "frozen sea", but it is located below the surface of the planet.

Large reserves of water-ice are also known to be held at the poles on Mars.


More images/info here:  www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEMGKA808BE_0.html

Minnesotans are on their way!

photoshopped.




The hi-res version is pretty cool.

Quoted: photoshopped.

Not necessarily.

Everyone knows that there's water-ice at the south pole of Mars. But frozen ice lends no evidence regarding possible life on Mars. What you need for life is liquid water, which is why the JPL and NASA folks were so excited about Spirit and Opportunity's finds...

—Dan

Quoted: Minnesotans are on their way!

I remember seeing the fly-by shots from the first Mariner sent to Mars.  The planet looked like the moon and most people were bitterly disappointed thinking that it was just another dead rock in space.

Goes to show that persistent research by dedicated people can return unexpected (and amazing) results.

I want to go.  

Have they announced any school closings?

Quoted: Minnesotans are on their way!

Quoted: Quoted: photoshopped. Not necessarily. Everyone knows that there's water-ice at the south pole of Mars. But frozen ice lends no evidence regarding possible life on Mars. What you need for life is liquid water, which is why the JPL and NASA folks were so excited about Spirit and Opportunity's finds... —Dan

You are new, so allow me to explain. It is SOP at arfcom for someone, anyone to yell photoshop anytime a picture showing anything out of the ordinary. This is in no way related to the veracity of said pic.

Cool.

Yet another interesting discovery by unmanned craft, while we funnel billions into the space shuttle toilet.

Quoted: You are new, so allow me to explain. It is SOP at arfcom for someone, anyone to yell photoshop anytime a picture showing anything out of the ordinary. This is in no way related to the veracity of said pic.

Gotcha. Thanks for the head's up...

Quoted: Cool. Yet another interesting discovery by unmanned craft, while we funnel billions into the space shuttle toilet.

lol. Yeah, but the manned space program has brought us so much technology, like Tang.

Quoted: Quoted: Cool. Yet another interesting discovery by unmanned craft, while we funnel billions into the space shuttle toilet. lol. Yeah, but the manned space program has brought us so much technology, like Tang.

and Mag Lights!!!!

Begin construction of the colony ship!

Just gotta get this and some glasses to Mars, and we'll be all set: