Source: Fox Sci Tech News
Newly released images from U.S. and European spacecraft support growing evidence that Mars once was a water-rich planet capable of supporting life. The new views reveal details of regions thought to contain water-bearing minerals and geological formations formed billions of years ago.
Stunning images captured by the High-Resolution Stereo Camera aboard the European Space Agency's Mars Express show the cliffs, valleys and plateaus of Echus Chasma, thought to have been one of the largest water-source regions on Mars.
First photo is A view of Echus Chasma on Mars showing a network of light-colored, incised valleys,
as seen by ESA's Mars Express orbiter.
Second photo is Echus Chasma, which resembles Arizona's Grand Canyon, is an approximately 60
miles long and 6 miles wide.
Third photo is A false-color view of Echus Chasma on Mars, reflecting differences in elevation.
Fourth photo is An image of Echus Chasma taken by the European Space Agency's Mars Express
orbiter on Sept. 25, 2005.
Nice. Can someone refresh my memory-
What are some of the theories about where the water (and atmosphere) went?
Well the biggest one is that it all started having problems when the Death Star became operational.... :)
For what I read theories are not clear about how water evaporated from the planet. Being closer to the sun than us, Mars may had super heated plus volcanic gases may had poisoned up the atmos.
Part of why the robots are up there now is to learn more about this, always with colonization in mind.
Quote from: Chief on July 25, 2008, 04:33:19 AM
For what I read theories are not clear about how water evaporated from the planet. Being closer to the sun than us, Mars may had super heated plus volcanic gases may had poisoned up the atmos.
Actually the science is pretty clear on why liquid water can't stay. The pressure is so low that it evaporates at below room temperature. They do it on Earth by creating a vacuum to lower the pressure and the water kind of boils without heat.
Quote from: Chief on July 25, 2008, 04:33:19 AM
For what I read theories are not clear about how water evaporated from the planet. Being closer to the sun than us, Mars may had super heated plus volcanic gases may had poisoned up the atmos.
Isn't Mars further from the sun than us? I think the order (from closest to farthest) goes Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. An elementary school teacher gave me a cool little phrase to help remember the order when I was a Kid-
Mary
Very
Easily
Makes
Jam;
She
Uses
No
Pots. ;)