Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mars Lander Sees Falling Snow

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the just-a-bad-signal dept.

Riding with Robots writes "NASA reports that the Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. According to the Canadian team running a weather experiment, a laser instrument designed to study how the atmosphere and surface interact on Mars has detected snow from clouds about 4 kilometers above the landing site. Data shows the snow vaporizing before reaching the surface, but one of the mission scientists said, 'We'll be looking for signs that the snow may even reach the ground.' Spacecraft soil experiments have also provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water."

74 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Robot Santa has moved shop! by xpuppykickerx · · Score: 2, Funny

    Screw Neptune! Mars has way better perks!

    1. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'm dreaming of a Red Christmas!

    2. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      Can someone please hack into him and fix his naughty list? We have less than three months left...

    3. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by Nerdfest · · Score: 1

      Wow ... that's some serious outsourcing

    4. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 1

      Let me guess... You live in a crowded city and you want a BFG9000.

    5. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by DittoBox · · Score: 4, Funny

      In Soviet Russia...we have Red Christmas!

      --
      Good. Cheap. Fast. Pick Two.
    6. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by tyrione · · Score: 1

      That's not snow! It's falling Ash! Run little lander, ruuuuun!

    7. Re:Robot Santa has moved shop! by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's not snow! It's falling Ash! Run little lander, ruuuuun!

      I think we'll be safe, as long as he's not falling chainsaw side down.

      --
      How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  2. If there is water... by MosesJones · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mars is essentially in the same orbit... Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe.
            Dan Quayle, 8/11/89

    Turns out Dan was right ;)

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
    1. Re:If there is water... by LiENUS · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Now all we need is to get enough nuclear fissible material into the core of mars to start back up its protective magnetic field to keep any atmosphere we might create there from being stripped away.

    2. Re:If there is water... by KillerBob · · Score: 4, Informative

      Mars having 1/3 the gravity has more to do with its thin atmosphere than any lack of magnetic field. Having no magnetic field would remove protection from solar wind and radiation, making it unable to support life as we know it, but wouldn't actually affect how thick an atmosphere the planet could retain.

      Mars has a magnetic field, btw. It's Venus that doesn't.

      --
      If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
    3. Re:If there is water... by Chyeld · · Score: 1

      Haven't you ever watched Superman 4? We just dump all our excess nukes down a crater. Should be enough to get it started.

    4. Re:If there is water... by oldspewey · · Score: 1

      And I can see Alaska from my house

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    5. Re:If there is water... by KillerBob · · Score: 4, Informative

      bleh... that'll teach me to post when awake... Mars has no magnetic field, Venus has a very very weak one.

      --
      If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
    6. Re:If there is water... by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Water, soil, sunlight...does that mean we can grow potatos?

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    7. Re:If there is water... by marcosdumay · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb"

      No problem, your sig excuses you.

      --
      Rethinking email
    8. Re:If there is water... by funaho · · Score: 1

      We should use some of those nucular materials. They're much more powerful I hear. :)

    9. Re:If there is water... by Nixoloco · · Score: 3, Informative


      Without a strong magnetic field, the solar wind will strip away the atmosphere over time. Lighter elements especially, will be stripped away rapidly.

      NASA seems to think that over 1/3 of Mars atmosphere was stripped away by solar winds over the years.

      Also, Venus is experiencing the same.

    10. Re:If there is water... by DeusExMach · · Score: 1

      Do you think "Ze Governor of Cally-Fonia" would be interested in undertaking such a mission?

      "Get your ass to Mahz."

    11. Re:If there is water... by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 1

      Google "Dan Qualye potatoe"

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
    12. Re:If there is water... by AmigaMMC · · Score: 1

      Then let's bring lots of iron to Mars and increase gravity... or use a graviton gun.

    13. Re:If there is water... by necro2607 · · Score: 1, Interesting

      "bleh... that'll teach me to post when awake..."

      As opposed to what, posting when asleep? I don't know that that would turn out much better... ;)

    14. Re:If there is water... by isomeme · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yep, which means Mars supports vodka production, the key element in colonizing a cold, dark, windswept wasteland.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a skull.
    15. Re:If there is water... by Phyrexicaid · · Score: 1

      The way things are going it sounds like Mars will have a better atmosphere than here.

      --
      The meme is dead, long live the meme!
    16. Re:If there is water... by sFurbo · · Score: 1

      No, but perhaps asparagus

    17. Re:If there is water... by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      A guy who doesn't question the mistakes of his subordinates no matter how obvious--the perfect quality you want in a potential President.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    18. Re:If there is water... by Teancum · · Score: 1

      It isn't that Mars "has no magnetic field"... the problem with the magnetic field of Mars is that it seems to be stuck in between cycles like what happens when the Earth goes through a magnetic pole reversal.

      In other words, there are hundreds of "magnetic north poles" on Mars. That makes it tough for navigation and to help protect the planet from solar storms... as all of the magnetic polar regions get slammed at the same time. On the Earth, it is a remote spot in Canada and Antarctica that get hit, sparing most of the rest of the planet.

      There are other surprises on the Red Planet that await us there, and finding out how the Martian "aereology" (as opposed to geology) works is going to be something fun over the next couple of centuries.

    19. Re:If there is water... by KillerBob · · Score: 1

      No, I'm trying to tell you that gravitational forces play a part in retaining an atmosphere.

      --
      If you believe everything you read, you'd better not read. - Japanese proverb
    20. Re:If there is water... by aetherworld · · Score: 1

      You said it the other way round, though :) Was a bit confusing.

      Of course you're right, gravitational forces play a (very big) part in retaining an atmosphere.

    21. Re:If there is water... by Friendly+Pyro · · Score: 1

      If there is oxygen then it disperse so fast due to Mars thin atmosphere. If an astronaut were to try to take off his helmet it would be like being underwater for two minutes then being able to breathe for about a second.

  3. the excitement about finding water on mars by circletimessquare · · Score: 1

    should subside by now, and we should all be sobered by the fact that yes, there's water on mars, but only in the same way that yes, there's gold on earth: its rare and fleeting

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:the excitement about finding water on mars by filthpickle · · Score: 3, Interesting

      but maybe there is just enough in some places that it can support life...which would mean that there is life on 2 planets in our solar system...which means that it almost certainly exists somewhere else in the galaxy too, which is kinda exciting to me.

    2. Re:the excitement about finding water on mars by BobMcD · · Score: 1

      Um, this isn't quite correct.

      As I recall, we have yet to detect a single star with a 'little rock' like ours. Period. And we can 'see' quite a few of them these days.

      Surely if Earth were a common event, we'd be seeing them on something higher than 0% of our neighbors.

    3. Re:the excitement about finding water on mars by spacefiddle · · Score: 1

      As I recall, we have yet to detect a single star with a 'little rock' like ours. Period. And we can 'see' quite a few of them these days.

      In the sense that someone standing on a beach can see "quite a bit" of water, sure. In the sense of coming close to a representative sample of what's out there, heck no.

      And there seems to be (tho i could be misinterpreting you) a tone of "our wonderful advanced technology can't see it yet, so it must not exist," when in fact scientific discovery is frequently a matter of "hey, uh, remember that thing that was absolutely 100% true last week...?"

      Which is what makes it fun!

      And then, of course, there's this.

      --
      That which does not kill us makes us... st
  4. White Christmas? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    OK, so any chance of a white Christmas on Mars?

    1. Re:White Christmas? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yes. Kim Stanley Robinson is writing it now.

    2. Re:White Christmas? by FourthLaw · · Score: 1

      More like a pink Christmas...

      --
      Skilled in differentiating ravens from a writing desks.
  5. Canadians? Snow? Mars? by Toshito · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is it April 1st again?

    --
    Try it! Library of Babel
    1. Re:Canadians? Snow? Mars? by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      No. Here is photographic proof of water on mars.

    2. Re:Canadians? Snow? Mars? by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Proof, nothing! That could be any clear liquid!

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  6. Canadian Funding rounds by MosesJones · · Score: 5, Funny

    Canadian Scientist: We'd like some money to look for Snow on Mars
    Canadian Funding: Errr we have lots of Snow already

    CS: Ahh but if we find snow on Mars then we can ski-doo on Mars
    CF: Errr we can ski-doo here

    CS: Well yes but if we find the snow first we'll get first tracks which means the Yanks will have to let us go on the manned mission
    CF: Sweeeeet

    Yes folks, its all about finding freshies and there is no lengths to which Canadians will not go in the search for fresh powder.

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
    1. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by jmikelittle · · Score: 1

      Isn't there a sweet poetic justice to Canadians finding snow first? And hey, if the snow actually isn't on the ground, we're talking a pretty good improvement over earth. As everyone knows Canada's been covered in snow since the second week of Sept. We don't get a whole lot of days above 32 degrees.

    2. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by Idiomatick · · Score: 1, Informative

      there is snow outside? Man i got to get out mo.... waaaait *looks out window* there no snow. Theres not even snow up in frigging lakehead. And thats in moose land.

    3. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by a+whoabot · · Score: 2, Funny

      Alternative ending.

      CS: Well yes but just think about how fun sledding would be with 1/3 gravity!
      CF: Sweeeeet

    4. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 3, Interesting

      With 26km of vertical, I'm bringing my skis.

    5. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Checking webcams... there's not even snow in Whitehorse yet. That guy must be a tourist. Don't tell him about the corners where it doesn't even snow most years.

    6. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by jmikelittle · · Score: 1

      First snowfall two years ago in Waterloo was less than two weeks from now (12th of October I believe) Yeah it was a joke but "We don't get a whole lot of days above 32 degrees." should have pointed that out.

    7. Re:Canadian Funding rounds by Idiomatick · · Score: 1

      global warming will take care of that harhar. Seriously i was in waterloo 2days ago and it was tshirt weather.... canadian tshirt weather mind you (we canadians believe it is summer all the time and will wear tshirts as long or longer than people in southern states in an attempt to make summer last longer)

  7. Re:If there is water... IRONIC ftw! by Markvs · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If we ever needed an "Ironic" choice for moderation purposes, this post is it!

    --
    46. The Hobo smiles, his eyes glaze over, and he burps. "Beware the man who has lived longer than the Wasteland."
  8. Cue the colonists by ciaohound · · Score: 2, Funny

    Global warming putting a damper on your ski vacations in the Alps or Rockies? Not a problem!

    --
    Oh, yeah, it's not easy to pad these out to 120 characters.
  9. Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by Zymergy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Surely someone at NASA has thought about making the first extra-terrestrial 'snow angel' with one of their landers? You know, for Kids...
    (Too bad the Hubble will not be able to take a picture of it though... http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/09/29/1846238 )

    1. Re:Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I really wish NASA thought more like this. I'm not literally talking about snow angels, but simply trying to make science more accessible to the public. Hell, some probes don't even have true-color cameras. Don't sacrifice the science, but go for some flash as well.

      --
      I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    2. Re:Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by camperdave · · Score: 2, Funny

      Flash is for portrait and close subject photography. The probe cameras are all taking landscape shots. Hmmm... well maybe some of the close up cameras on the rovers (the ones that take pictures of the rock abrasion tool scrapings) have lights, but they're probably not flash but LED.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    3. Re:Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by Mr+Z · · Score: 2, Funny

      *blink*

      Ok, how about panache then?

      --
      Program Intellivision!
    4. Re:Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by Chris+Burke · · Score: 3, Funny

      *blink*

      Ok, how about panache then?

      Is that what the "P" setting on my digital camera is for?

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    5. Re:Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by nyctopterus · · Score: 1

      I agree. Also, I'd add that space exploration is called space exploration for a reason. It's not space science. We're out there to explore. The science malarky is a cover.

    6. Re:Martian Lander Snow Angels next? by Zwicky · · Score: 1

      Nonsense. Flash photography, when correctly mastered, can make any photograph infinitely better than without. Observe.

      --
      "Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
  10. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ... by uss · · Score: 1

    eom

  11. Neat, virga on Mars. by Neanderthal+Ninny · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Rain or snow, like virga, on Mars may not be consisting of water only. Here is the Wikipedia entry on virga:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virga

    Also Universities Space Research Association has some information on virga:
    http://epod.usra.edu/archive/epodviewer.php3?oid=47776
    They have a excellent NOAA photo of virga.

  12. That's how you know... by Kohath · · Score: 1

    ...it's just a dream.

  13. They're at the Poles. Winter is coming. by mbone · · Score: 1

    They're at the Poles. Winter is coming. It does snow there, they will see more. There will eventually be CO2 condensation as well, but IIRC that's after the Lander goes to sleep.

  14. If this is real, I'll be fascinated by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 1

    I caught my breath when I heard it. Then I realized that people like to post sensationalist headlines. If it turns out to be real, I want Martian snow as my screen saver.

    --
    God spoke to me.
  15. Why do all the Mars pictures look so bad? by atkinc00 · · Score: 1

    Perhaps I'm not looking in the right place but all the video and photos I've ever seen look worse than my camera phone. Why? I've yet to see any that are awe inspiring. If you've found some please post for me...

  16. If we could only just get it to snow in Hell ... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... then the financial crisis would be solved. Or, at least that was what some Talking Head said on TV. The financial crisis will be over when it snows in Hell.

    Why didn't the damn bastard say "snows on Mars" instead, it could have saved $700 billion!

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  17. Lets just start terraforming the damn thing! by Facegarden · · Score: 1

    Seriously, can we just start terraforming the damn thing already? Who cares if there is water there, lets just start sending over plants in protected spacecraft with their own water supply and see how they do with some exposure to the atmosphere. Hell, algae would probably do the trick better than plants. Or we could make some machines to do the conversion, if we even know how to do that. I'm sick of all this "oooh, it's not completely dead yet!" research, we should just start rebuilding the damn thing!

    (i realize this is short sighted - i'm mostly just ranting - but in truth, i would love it if we actually did just do this, even though it would contaminate the planet and we'd never know its true past)

    -Taylor

    --
    Worldwide Military budgets: $2100 billion. Worldwide Space Exploration budgets: $38 billion. Really, world? Really?
  18. H2O Snow? by kmarshallbanana · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Do they know for sure that the snow is H20 snow. Or could it be snow made of something else?

    1. Re:H2O Snow? by aadvancedGIR · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's actually far easier to determine than if it really was water that caused liquid erosion of the surface: all they had to do was to determine the temperature at which it evaporated.

  19. Re:If we could only just get it to snow in Hell .. by DeusExMach · · Score: 1

    The irony of it is, Hell's been frozen over this whole time...

  20. "Dropo, you are the laziest man on Mars!" by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This would be the perfect time for Santa Claus to conquer the Martians.

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  21. How much power? by jriskin · · Score: 1

    So how much power would be required to generate a field large enough to protect mars?

    1. Re:How much power? by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 1

      Hey, all we need is a second LHC in the Mars core and the black holes will do the rest, right? Right?

      --

      People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
  22. h2wha? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    this dihydrogen-oxide will destroy the ozone layer

  23. You bet by garphik · · Score: 1

    Thats because of global warming ...

  24. CO2 snow? by peter303 · · Score: 1

    It goes about 30 degrees F below dry ice temperature in middle of the night.