Science and Space

space and astronomy articles.

Spirit Rover found strongest evidence yet of past water on Mars

Spirit rover on Mars has discovered a mineral called goethite in the bedrock at Gusev which forms only in the presence of water.

Spirit had previously identified the mineral haematite in the bedrock at Columbia Hills, where it is exploring. This mineral usually forms in wet conditions, but it can occasionally form without the presence of water

The discovery of goethite, however, makes the evidence for a watery past at Gusev more compelling.

Spirit has now driven past a feature called the West Spur and has started to ascend Husband Hill, a section of Columbia Hills.

On the other side of Mars, Opportunity has spotted clouds and frost on the flat plain of Meridiani Planum, a sign of the changing seasons on the planet. They are caused by water vapour moving from the planet’s North Pole toward the South Pole during the current northern-summer and southern-winter period. A thin frost was observed by Opportunity on the calibration target for its panoramic camera

posted by: kyawoo at 11:54 | link | comments (1) |
mars

Comments:

#1  22 December 2004 - 23:36

 

Very interesting site.

Anonymous

Comments: