[X] My Assistant

[MiniTES]

Hi, everybody, this will be my first post here; I've been wondering about this and have also posted it over at the Bad Astronomy board.

While browsing through the abstracts from the 36th Conference on Lunar and Planetary Science (immensely fun), I came upon this paper (page 27, entitled "Origin of Layered Rocks, Salts and Spherules at the Opportunity Landing Site on Mars: No Flowing or Standing Water Evident or Required"). It asserts that the evidence for a salty sea at Meridiani spotted by Opportunity has been misinterpereted. What do you think? Personally I get the sense that this is the 1 guy out of 100 who doesn't share the mainstream scientific opinion, but I'd be interested if someone more versed in Mars geology than I would be willing to comment on it.

That said, this looks like an interesting place- glad to see that I can get some info on Spirit and Opporutnity other than the NASA press releases! (a.k.a. every three weeks we learn how Spirit and Opporutnity are "unlocking the secrets of the solar system").

[Marcel]

I agree. Patience is not in the vocabulary of most people nowadays, while it is the most important aspect of thorough analyses. But, it is definately a strong article and also makes me doubt about the acid sea. In other words: i get the feeling that the evidence for a sea during a long period of time isn't as strong as NASA claimed it to be in the press conference last year. I don't say there wasn't a sea, but i certainly can't say that there was !

Marcel.