Mars, on the rocks

[MJ4H]

We have ice!

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/06/mars-phoenix-tw.html


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

[Racer]

Pretty big finding. Pretty cool too.

[JetsIn06]

Nice!

[rowech]

First off...I do believe it's ice. However, it certainly isn't conclusive evidence to me. Perhaps it's a compound that we've never seen on Earth that does the same thing as ice? Not great science to immediately decide it's ice. Like I said...I do believe it is but I'd certainly want more evidence if I was on the team.

[Young Drachma]

First off...I do believe it's ice. However, it certainly isn't conclusive evidence to me. Perhaps it's a compound that we've never seen on Earth that does the same thing as ice? Not great science to immediately decide it's ice. Like I said...I do believe it is but I'd certainly want more evidence if I was on the team.

Yeah, the picture didn't really convince me either. But once they colourize it in a few days, it'll show more than we're really able to see now.

[sterlingice]

Neat, if true

SI

[Young Drachma]

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/247778main_13641-516.gif

Seems strange ice would be randomly logged on the ground where only to vanish from the dirt. And I like how the reports say "it must be ice" as opposed to something more definitive. I dunno.

Anyway, that pic comes from the Phoenix site. (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/index.html)

[rowech]

I'm just not sure I buy it. I'd like to see a lot more evidence than that. For what has been such an essential question for so many years, it seems like a really crappy way to "prove" it.

[spleen1015]

I don't know how you can prove that is ice.

[flere-imsaho]

I'm going to assume the lander has sensors or whatever that can relay data the scientists can use to show it's ice.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Here's the actual NASA article with a better animation included..........

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080619.html

Regarding the composition of the material, they should be able to detect it in the ovens on-board the lander. I'm sure they'll move to do more checking of that in the coming days.

[rowech]

As I said...I totally believe it's ice. I'd just like something a little better than what we have.

[TredWel]

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!
It's been a long forty years.

[Young Drachma]

It's been a long forty years.

Well played, sir.