Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science

Summer clouds over Meridiani?

I found these on the Unmannedspaceflight.com site:

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2005-12-29/1P189145698EFF64KCP2731L1M1.JPG

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2005-12-29/1P189146928ESF64KCP2731L1M1.JPG

I had argued that clouds would be seen over the rover site(s) during the southern Summer as they had been seen over Meridiani during the southern Winter:

More on "Frost on the rover solar panels".
http://bautforum.com/showpost.php?p=323577&postcount=6

Note that thin, high altitude clouds are also visible near the equator in this opposition photo from Hubble:

Mars Images — MarsWatch 2005
Images taken by James F. Bell and the Hubble Heritage Team
Monday, 07th of November 2005
http://elvis.rowan.edu/marswatch/images/marswatch.php?n=JFB

However, I can't tell what is the location of these equatorial clouds in this image if anyone knows that.

Since the winter clouds over Meridiani corresponded to frost deposition, they should also correspond to water/ice deposition during this warmer period.
I had also argued that these clouds could result in precipitation over the landing sites. However, these are actually thin cirrus-type clouds, not precipitation bearing clouds, so snow/rain would not be expected.

Bob Clark

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