Water found on Mars: NASA

Datto · 06-20-2008, 05:12 PM

There is water ice on Mars within reach of the Mars Phoenix Lander, NASA scientists announced Thursday.

Photographic evidence settles the debate over the nature of the white material seen in photographs sent back by the craft. As seen in lower left of this image, chunks of the ice sublimed (changed directly from solid to gas) over the course of four days, after the lander's digging exposed them.

"It must be ice," said the Phoenix Lander's lead investigator, Peter Smith. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice."

The confirmation that water ice exists in the area directly surrounding the lander is big and good news for the Martian mission. NASA's stated goal for the Mars Phoenix was to find exactly this -- water ice -- and then analyze it. With the latest news, the first step is accomplished. All that's left now is to get the water into the Phoenix's instruments, a task which has occasionally proven more difficult than anticipated.

Still, this is the best opportunity that humanity has ever had to analyze extraterrestrial water in any form. That had the Phoenix Lander's persona fired up.

"Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!" the Mars Phoenix Lander tweeted at about 5:15 pm.

Their suspicions about water ice beneath the surface of Mars confirmed, scientists and the world will have renewed interest in the outcome of the soil analyses currently being conducted by the lander.

The samples are being examined for traces of organic molecules, among other substances, but the lander does not have instruments that could directly detect life.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2...hoenix-tw.html

Now I guess we just need Arny to find the big alien atmosphere generator to melt all the ice so we can live up there.

Vermillion · 06-20-2008, 06:16 PM

Cool!
Cheers for posting!

Kurgan · 06-21-2008, 01:23 AM

Hmmm....i'd want more than speculation based on pictures.....Get a sample in an on-board mass spectrometer then i'll believe it when i see the 18m/z peak

Legmann · 06-21-2008, 02:30 AM

Impress girls! Make their drinks with genuine Martian ice!

Martian Martini

Martian Martini Drink Recipe
Ingredients

1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
2 oz Gin

Martian Martini Directions

Combine gin and midori in a cocktail shaker with Martian ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail/martini glass.

Hal-9000 · 06-21-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurgan

Hmmm....i'd want more than speculation based on pictures.....Get a sample in an on-board mass spectrometer then i'll believe it when i see the 18m/z peak

there's a certain type of science based entirely on speculation based on observation only...all astronomers practice it daily.

I'm with Kurg...get a chunk and touch it

*if there really is water, the next step could be monumental

**Mugzy** · 06-21-2008, 02:04 PM

We probably planted that "evidence"!

Vardar · 06-21-2008, 03:29 PM

Once, I found chocolate on Uranus.

Datto · 06-23-2008, 06:08 PM

the thing that I don't get about this is that the water melting is at -80c. How does water melt at -80?

Legmann · 06-23-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datto

the thing that I don't get about this is that the water melting is at -80c. How does water melt at -80?

It's not melting, it's subliming. Melting is going from solid to liquid. Subliming is going directly from solid to gas, like carbon dioxide does when it's dry ice.

At extremely low temperatures, water ice behaves differently than at normal low temperatures.

There's many different types of water ice, depending on the pressure and temperature it's frozen, and they may have different properties.

Google "types of ice" if you're into science.

Datto · 06-23-2008, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legmann

It's not melting, it's subliming. Melting is going from solid to liquid. Subliming is going directly from solid to gas, like carbon dioxide does when it's dry ice.

At extremely low temperatures, water ice behaves differently than at normal low temperatures.

There's many different types of water ice, depending on the pressure and temperature it's frozen, and they may have different properties.

Google "types of ice" if you're into science.

I will do that thanks. learn something new everyday.

Sertes · 06-24-2008, 12:07 AM

Hal-9000 · 06-24-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vardar

Once, I found chocolate on Uranus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sertes

two funny posts in what could be one of the most significant threads of our future ...

*missed ya Sertes

lost in melb. · 06-24-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

The samples are being examined for traces of organic molecules, among other substances, but the lander does not have instruments that could directly detect life.

Next time

Datto · 06-24-2008, 04:52 PM

Is that an emo Hal?

MC_Plunger · 06-24-2008, 07:36 PM

Ha, there is water on mars but no water in africa for my fellow brothers to drink. Typical white man shit.

06-20-2008, 05:12 PM	#1
Datto Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,087 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Water found on Mars: NASA There is water ice on Mars within reach of the Mars Phoenix Lander, NASA scientists announced Thursday. Photographic evidence settles the debate over the nature of the white material seen in photographs sent back by the craft. As seen in lower left of this image, chunks of the ice sublimed (changed directly from solid to gas) over the course of four days, after the lander's digging exposed them. "It must be ice," said the Phoenix Lander's lead investigator, Peter Smith. "These little clumps completely disappearing over the course of a few days, that is perfect evidence that it's ice." The confirmation that water ice exists in the area directly surrounding the lander is big and good news for the Martian mission. NASA's stated goal for the Mars Phoenix was to find exactly this -- water ice -- and then analyze it. With the latest news, the first step is accomplished. All that's left now is to get the water into the Phoenix's instruments, a task which has occasionally proven more difficult than anticipated. Still, this is the best opportunity that humanity has ever had to analyze extraterrestrial water in any form. That had the Phoenix Lander's persona fired up. "Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, WATER ICE on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!" the Mars Phoenix Lander tweeted at about 5:15 pm. Their suspicions about water ice beneath the surface of Mars confirmed, scientists and the world will have renewed interest in the outcome of the soil analyses currently being conducted by the lander. The samples are being examined for traces of organic molecules, among other substances, but the lander does not have instruments that could directly detect life. http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2...hoenix-tw.html Now I guess we just need Arny to find the big alien atmosphere generator to melt all the ice so we can live up there.

06-20-2008, 06:16 PM	#2
Vermillion Beard... Dragon... What? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam Posts: 7,165 Thanks: 2 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Cool! Cheers for posting! __________________ *NEW*Vermz' 7K Random Image Celebration

06-21-2008, 01:23 AM	#3
Kurgan Meatspinning Trash Whore Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UK Posts: 8,222 Thanks: 89 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Hmmm....i'd want more than speculation based on pictures.....Get a sample in an on-board mass spectrometer then i'll believe it when i see the 18m/z peak __________________ Awesome sig care of Fricnjay

06-21-2008, 02:30 AM	#4
Legmann Perceptum quod lucror! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 41,246 Thanks: 406 Thanked 1,579 Times in 834 Posts	Impress girls! Make their drinks with genuine Martian ice! Martian Martini Martian Martini Drink Recipe Ingredients 1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur 2 oz Gin Martian Martini Directions Combine gin and midori in a cocktail shaker with Martian ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail/martini glass. __________________

06-21-2008, 02:04 PM	#6
Mugzy Mod, All AS teams, Friend Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: On the edge Posts: 87,993 Thanks: 3 Thanked 539 Times in 246 Posts	We probably planted that "evidence"! __________________

06-21-2008, 03:29 PM	#7
Vardar Officially "Mr." Vardar Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Bethlehem Posts: 19,712 Thanks: 541 Thanked 170 Times in 27 Posts	Once, I found chocolate on Uranus. __________________ A Fairy A Day Keeps The Whores Away DIES IST DIE ÜBER FEE Don't tell me you don't know the difference Between a lover and a fighter With my pen and my electric typewriter Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel - Elvis "Wind" Costello

06-23-2008, 06:08 PM	#8
Datto Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,087 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	the thing that I don't get about this is that the water melting is at -80c. How does water melt at -80?

06-24-2008, 12:07 AM	#11
Sertes Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bologna, Italy Posts: 1,215 Thanks: 13 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	__________________ "We are unable to provide a full explanation of the total collapse" - NIST "I got to the PEOC and the vice president was already there" - US Minister of Transportation Norman Mineta

06-24-2008, 04:52 PM	#14
Datto Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,087 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Is that an emo Hal?

06-24-2008, 07:36 PM	#15
MC_Plunger Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 70 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ha, there is water on mars but no water in africa for my fellow brothers to drink. Typical white man shit.

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