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Probe Captures Avalanche on Mars

mdekato writes "MSNBC reports that NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured an avalanche on Mars' surface as it happened. Very good still images show what must have been an awesome sight. 'The full image reveals features as small as a desk in a strip of terrain 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) wide and more than 10 times that long, at 84 degrees north latitude. Reddish layers known to be rich in water ice make up the face of a steep slope more than 2,300 feet (700 meters) tall, running the length of the image. Mars' north pole is covered by a cap of ice, and it even snows there. The scientists suspect that more ice than dust probably makes up the material that fell from the upper portion of the scarp.'"

14 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. those poor martians by jollyreaper · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's what they get for straying off the marked path.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:those poor martians by Naughty+Bob · · Score: 3, Funny

      On the contrary, this is the beginning of a well rehearsed plan...

      --
      "Be light, stinging, insolent and melancholy"
  2. As small as a what? by ricebowl · · Score: 5, Funny

    'The full image reveals features as small as a desk in a strip of terrain 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) wide and more than 10 times that long, at 84 degrees north latitude.

    I know that we've sent various missions to mars; rovers, probes, environmental impact among other what-have-you; but, and this, I feel is important, when did we send the office furniture?

    1. Re:As small as a what? by jaymzter · · Score: 5, Funny

      My question is, if there's an avalanche on Mars, does it make any noise? If so, what color?

      --
      If thou see a fair woman pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love
    2. Re:As small as a what? by pipatron · · Score: 2, Funny

      Here in Sweden we are very used to assemble IKEA desks while skiing, It's not as hard as it looks.

      --
      c++; /* this makes c bigger but returns the old value */
  3. Casualties! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    My God! I hope there weren't any casualties!

  4. In Martian News Today by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 5, Funny

    "A skier died in an avalanche today while attempting a decent of the dangerous Xplplplt Cliffs near the North Pole. Search and rescue teams found the victim's body which suffered 8 broken limbs, damage to 2 heads, and 1 missing attenna. The victim did not appear to be wearing a teleporter as recommended for skiing in the backcountry."

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  5. Why they never made Skiwatch by jollyreaper · · Score: 2, Funny

    Baywatch was a very popular show. It would seem to follow that Skiwatch would also be very popular. You're talking about athletic, fit people doing marvelous adventuresome things. Then I realized the problem: it's hard to show sufficient skin to entice the reptile brain audience when that would only lead to frostbite. A babe in a parka looks like a hunk in a parka looks like an IT nerd in a parka -- nobody could tell the difference. Skiwatch would never succeed. If that's the case, Martian Skiwatch would be even less successful, seeing as the actors would have to wear helmets to retain plausibility. Oh, wait, I know -- skin-tight environmental suits. Do you think audiences would buy the idea of suits thick enough to protect the wearer from 1% of Earth's sea level air pressure that are still thin enough to show nipplage?

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:Why they never made Skiwatch by Digital+Vomit · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Stupid sexy Flanders!"

      --
      Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
  6. Missed! by southpolesammy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whew! Well that was close...guess that GRB wasn't perfectly aimed at us after all....

    --
    Rule #1 -- Politics always trumps technology.
  7. Well, you know the old saying..... by Czarf · · Score: 3, Funny

    Avalanche is better than none.

  8. He would have been OK, except by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Funny

    he got hit my a flying desk.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:He would have been OK, except by Gazzonyx · · Score: 5, Funny

      I guess Balmer is stronger on Mars...

      --

      If I mod you up, it doesn't necessarily mean I agree with what you've said, sorry.

  9. It's their own fault, true by commodoresloat · · Score: 3, Funny

    But there's no need for a religious interpretation. This is clearly evidence of the effects of Martial Warming. If those silly Martians weren't so attached to their darn SUVs they might have escaped this fate....