Earthlike Mars? Options

[dvandorn]

I would say that ground cracks that aren't filled up with dust occur because the process of dust deposition v. deflation has achieved a dynamic stability on Mars. The winds giveth, the winds taketh away...

-the other Doug

[glennwsmith]

There's a new report out that results from the Indian lunar mapper (announcement coming up) indicate that there's "lots" of water on the Moon

If that's the case, then there's "lots^^2" water on Mars. I believe, in fact, that we are establishing a new paradigm -- just as we are now learning that planets are plentiful in the universe, so we are also learning that the rocky bodies among them are loaded with water -- Mars, the apparent desert planet, included.

I know this is the kind of wild statement that cautious thinkers abhor, but I can't help it -- it's in my genes.

BTW, I think Fran asked a good question about the desiccation cracks and the other Doug had an equally good answer.

[glennwsmith]

Two back-to-back articles on the JPL web site about water on the moon and Mars, respectively -- in the unlikely event that there's a UMSFer somewhere who has not yet seen them:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-147

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-148

Sept 24, 2009 -- a big day for space junkies indeed.

[MarsIsImportant]

hhmmm! So water ice and sublimation is a much more significant process on Mars than previously thought...not a big surprise to me personally. The big surprise is the Moon. But if comets brought water to Earth, then it makes sense that they would bring it to the Moon too.

[Greg Hullender]

But if comets brought water to Earth, then it makes sense that they would bring it to the Moon too.

It wouldn't have stayed on the moon very long, though, if it came from comets. Current thinking seems to be that the lunar water is produced by the solar wind. I'd doubt if very much (if any) Martian water arrived that way.

--Greg

[climber]

"Water" on Mars guys! Ice visible at mid latitudes from HiRise: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=29232
BTW, Astro, where is the new emoticon you shown us recently?

[serpens]

"Water" on Mars guys! Ice visible at mid latitudes from HiRise.....

The identification of ice in a new crater is a good find. But I feel that Shane Byrne is a bit quick off the mark to claim cause and effect and state that "This ice is a relic of a more humid climate from perhaps just several thousand years ago."

Ice underlying the regolith within centimeters of the surface as a recent deposit - perhaps. A relic of an older warmer wetter past - perhaps. Or the residue from ice meteorites that left icy residue that gradually sublimated. The latter would seem more in keeping with the observation that the ice was a thin layer overlying darker material.

[Julius]

i think we should perhaps revisit Viking 2 science results...any news from the radar team as to th thickness of water ice in mid latitudes of Mars??

[Fran Ontanaya]

Well, at the scalloped terrain of Utopia Planitia (46º) the sublimation pits are quite deep:

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...mp;#entry127173

[Julius]

Are we sure those craters spotted recently are impact craters or explosive??water ice sublimating ?similar to the spider structures seen at the poles except that the mechanism for the latter seems to be C02!

[djellison]

If you can suggest a method by which they can suddenly appear, in a cluster, with ejecta and occasional airburst patterns....go for it.

[glennwsmith]

Does anyone have a sense of the distribution of these ice paved craters relative to the presumed outline of Oceanus Borealis? And a related question: do these craters all fall within basins or low lying regions, or regions which were at one time low lying?

[glennwsmith]

In an earlier post in this thread, I made the not-original observation that the many pairs of trained amateur eyes of UMSF members could play an important role in interpreting the visual evidence for an Oceanus Borealis.

That concept has now been endorsed in a big way on APOD, but in reference to galaxy structure. It's pretty darned interesting:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091026.html

[JohnVV]

In an earlier post in this thread, I made the not-original observation that the many pairs of trained amateur eyes of UMSF members could play an important role in interpreting the visual evidence for an Oceanus Borealis.

and to think i made this image 6 years ago ( 100% fictous ) based ONLY on an average mola height
1024x512
[attachment=19418:1kBlueMars.jpg]

too much ice ,no weathering , ...
it dose need to be remade

[glennwsmith]

JohnVV -- way cool! My effort understandably did not pass Phil's muster, but perhaps yours will!