Mars rover finds first evidence of water: a river of it

Mars rover finds first evidence of water: a river of it

www.reuters.com

(Reuters) - NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, dispatched to learn if the most Earth-like planet in the solar system was suitable for microbial life, has found clear evidence its landing site was once awash in water, a key ingredient for life, scientists said Thursday.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Mod Edit: Review This Link: Breaking Alternative News Guidelines -- Copy the Exact Headline

Amazing. Every day that passes we are learning more and more about our solar system as well as information relating to the ultimate question of how life began.

It was previously assumed that there were rivers, but whether or not they were of water or some other liquid were always unclear up to this point. Was there ever life (non-intelligent or otherwise) on Mars at any point in time?

I can't wait to hear more about this as well as results regarding whether or not micro-organisms have been found.

www.reuters.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Really?...a river of water?

Unfortunately, this isn't really news.

Erosion is evident all over the surface of Mars... of course rivers of water were once there.

reply to post by SoulVisions


I read through a lot of posts today that seemed to feel the whole rover deal was fake.

Why don't they point their camera up at night. The stars would look different than from earth.

Originally posted by sonofonehunlo
reply to post by SoulVisions

 

I read through a lot of posts today that seemed to feel the whole rover deal was fake.

Why don't they point their camera up at night. The stars would look different than from earth.

I have never really understood why some people think that. What would be the point in faking it?

Originally posted by DarkKnight21
Unfortunately, this isn't really news.

Erosion is evident all over the surface of Mars... of course rivers of water were once there.

This^

Originally posted by billy197300

Originally posted by sonofonehunlo
reply to post by SoulVisions

 

I read through a lot of posts today that seemed to feel the whole rover deal was fake.

Why don't they point their camera up at night. The stars would look different than from earth.

I have never really understood why some people think that. What would be the point in faking it?

A radio guy on each day said it. His father told him when he was young, that he knew men that would rather cheat him out of a dollar rather than make 100 dollars doing honest business with him.

That's the point.

Originally posted by SoulVisions

Mars Rover finds River of Water

www.reuters.com

(Reuters) - NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, dispatched to learn if the most Earth-like planet in the solar system was suitable for microbial life, has found clear evidence its landing site was once awash in water, a key ingredient for life, scientists said Thursday.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Actually no it doesn't. The headline says:

Mars rover finds first evidence of water: a river of it

"Of water" implies it is still there which really would be news. It may have seemed easier/better putting it that way but it makes a huge difference.

Originally posted by sonofonehunlo
reply to post by SoulVisions

 

I read through a lot of posts today that seemed to feel the whole rover deal was fake.

Why don't they point their camera up at night. The stars would look different than from earth.

That wouldn't prove anything I'm afraid, the stars would look exacty the same because Mars is astronomically speaking very, very close whereas the stars are a long way away - the nearest (apart from the sun) is 4 light years away.

Edit to add: The average distance from Earth to Mars is 140 million miles. The distance from Earth to the Sun is 93 million miles. So in mid summer the Earth is 186 million miles from where it was at mid winter, yet the constellations still look the same. Obviously, the figure is approximate because our orbit is eliptical, but it makes the point.

Originally posted by sonofonehunlo
reply to post by SoulVisions

 

Why don't they point their camera up at night. The stars would look different than from earth.

Um.. No they wouldn't. Unless you where like the most avid astronomer ever, I highly doubt you could tell the slight difference in positions of stars in the sky. I don't mean to come across as rude, but Mars is still in our Solar System and really not THAT far away in comparison to other planets.

And to the OP. I have read 3 different threads on this now. But thank you for the Reuters article because I have yet to read their viewpoints.

reply to post by TheSparrowSings


Does mars have an atmosphere? I thought that made a difference...

NASA, stating the obvious since 1958..

reply to post by SymbolicLogic


Mars has a very, very, very thin atmosphere. But still, there is atmosphere. Are you thinking that the pictures the Rover would take would look clearer and you would see more stars than you can on a clear Earth night? I have seen some pretty clear pictures of the stars taken in the desert at night so I don't really think there would be a difference.

reply to post by TheSparrowSings


but if they point up you might see a boeing 747 flying over head or a seagull.

at night you might see the moon, our moon, or during the day you'll see blue bird skies.

they should show the mars sky, it would be cool to see.

Originally posted by TheSparrowSings
And to the OP. I have read 3 different threads on this now. But thank you for the Reuters article because I have yet to read their viewpoints.

Thanks. That was really the entire point here. This is information just released and, with all of the recent threads attempting to call the Rover mission a "lie," I wanted to share an alternative viewpoint from a respected news source while keeping attention towards this topic of discussion that currently is important to a large number of ATS members.

As stated in my opening post, it has been speculated for some time now that there was water but as of right now, this is the first time that we have real evidence. The scientific community now has something to lean upon and will be able to move ahead confidently.

Originally posted by randomname
reply to post by TheSparrowSings

 

they should show the mars sky, it would be cool to see.

edit on 2-10-2012 by randomname because: (no reason given)

It really, really would, but you'd need a longish (30 + seconds) exposure with a stills camera, and without an equatorial mount you'd get star trails. It'd still be fascinating though, just knowing that it's the night sky from a different planet.

Well..where there's water,there's got to be life..

If you know the actual time (Terra or Mars) and you observe the stars, I bet you could figure out what planet you were on. I wonder how clear the Mars night sky is without all the pollution. View From Olympus Mons must be spectacular.

Originally posted by SymbolicLogic
reply to post by TheSparrowSings

 

Does mars have an atmosphere? I thought that made a difference...

Are you joking?

I hope so, because otherwise the level of knowledge around here is scary.

If not...

The atmosphere of Mars is less than 1% of Earth’s, so it does not protect the planet from the Sun’s radiation nor does it do much to retain heat at the surface. It consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and the remainder is trace amounts of oxygen, water vapor, and other gases. Also, it is constantly filled with small particles of dust(mainly iron oxide), which give Mars its reddish hue.

Read more: www.universetoday.com...