Mars is experiencing global warming

Mars finally shows it has a wonder all its own

Form discusses red planet
By
Katy Human
Denver Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 -

Mars' distinctive personality is finally emerging. After five successful
Mars missions launched in the past seven years, planetary scientists no
longer describe the fourth planet from the sun in terms of its better-known
relatives - Mars as the moon with an atmosphere, as Earth with craters.

Today, scientists know far more about the salty sea that once washed across
Mars' face and the volcanoes that erupted billions of years ago, experts
said Tuesday night at a free public Mars forum.

About 400 people attended the Denver event, part of the Geological Society
of America's annual meeting, in which speakers outlined current knowledge of
Mars and the big questions that remain.

A few billion years ago, Mars sported liquid water and temperatures balmy
enough that life could have been possible, the scientists concluded.

"It had habitable environments," said Steven Squyres, a Cornell University
planetary scientist. "Now the question becomes, 'Were they actually
inhabited?"'

Michael Malin, president of Malin Space Science Systems, talked about
gullies that may have been sculpted recently by liquid water; evidence of
ancient seas; and the discovery that the planet's south polar cap of dry ice
is losing weight.

"Mars is experiencing global warming," Malin said. "And we don't know why."

Philip Christensen, an Arizona State University planetary geologist, showed
spectacular images of ancient volcanoes on Mars and discussed evidence that
lava has changed composition over time, as it does in volcanoes on Earth.

"We're now doing geology on Mars," Christensen marveled.

Squyres focused on images and data collected from Spirit and Opportunity,
two rovers currently exploring the surface of the planet long past their
expected expiration dates. The audience murmured as he scrolled through
images shot by the rovers perched on steep slopes, at the base of cliffs,
drilling holes in rock, and rumbling through ancient craters.

The recent flurry of missions to Mars continues next year when the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration expects to launch the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter, built by Lockheed Martin engineers in Jefferson
County.

The craft will search for evidence of water at all levels of Mars, from the
top of its atmosphere to deep underground, said Lockheed's Kevin McNeill.

Staff writer Katy Human can be reached at 303-820-1910 or at
.



--
Jeff in Florida
Retired for Sure

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 12:31:57 -0500, "Dusty"
wrote:

Mars finally shows it has a wonder all its own

Form discusses red planet
By
Katy Human
Denver Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 -

Mars' distinctive personality is finally emerging. After five successful
Mars missions launched in the past seven years, planetary scientists no
longer describe the fourth planet from the sun in terms of its better-known
relatives - Mars as the moon with an atmosphere, as Earth with craters.

Today, scientists know far more about the salty sea that once washed across
Mars' face and the volcanoes that erupted billions of years ago, experts
said Tuesday night at a free public Mars forum.

About 400 people attended the Denver event, part of the Geological Society
of America's annual meeting, in which speakers outlined current knowledge of
Mars and the big questions that remain.

A few billion years ago, Mars sported liquid water and temperatures balmy
enough that life could have been possible, the scientists concluded.

"It had habitable environments," said Steven Squyres, a Cornell University
planetary scientist. "Now the question becomes, 'Were they actually
inhabited?"'

Michael Malin, president of Malin Space Science Systems, talked about
gullies that may have been sculpted recently by liquid water; evidence of
ancient seas; and the discovery that the planet's south polar cap of dry ice
is losing weight.

"Mars is experiencing global warming," Malin said. "And we don't know why."

Must be all those cars...

RichA wrote in message . ..
On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 12:31:57 -0500, "Dusty"
wrote:

Mars finally shows it has a wonder all its own
[...]
Michael Malin, president of Malin Space Science Systems, talked about
gullies that may have been sculpted recently by liquid water; evidence of
ancient seas; and the discovery that the planet's south polar cap of dry ice
is losing weight.

"Mars is experiencing global warming," Malin said. "And we don't know why."

Must be all those cars...

Nope. Solar activity is the key, same as the "global warming" on Earth. Who
was it who wrote "... the main crop of Greenland 500 years ago was wheat, now
it's snow/ice".?

(Thad Floryan) wrote in message . com...

Nope. Solar activity is the key, same as the "global warming" on Earth. Who
was it who wrote "... the main crop of Greenland 500 years ago was wheat, now
it's snow/ice".?

What about undetected gravity waves warming the crusts of our planets
by elastic deformation? :-)

Chris.B