NewScientist.com news service
15:33 08 June 2007
A new analysis of pictures taken by the exploration rover Opportunity reveals what appear to be small ponds of liquid water on the surface of Mars.
The report identifies specific spots that appear to have contained liquid water two years ago, when Opportunity was exploring a crater called Endurance. It is a highly controversial claim, as many scientists believe that liquid water cannot exist on the surface of Mars today because of the planet’s thin atmosphere.
If confirmed, the existence of such ponds would significantly boost the odds that living organisms could survive on or near the surface of Mars, says physicist Ron Levin, the report's lead author, who works in advanced image processing at the aerospace company Lockheed Martin in Arizona.
Mars rover finds "puddles" on the planet's surface
The whole thread (31 posts)
- Mars rover finds "puddles" on the planet's surface
- New Scientist retraction
- smooth, but not flat
- re: smooth, but not flat
- No sale.
- Unmannedspaceflight.com is, not surprisingly, all over this.
- If so, I'm truly amazed