Phoenix under Martian frost - November 05, 2009
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has snapped the Phoenix lander encased in carbon dioxide frost on the surface of the Red Planet.
“The amount of carbon dioxide frost is increasing as late winter transitions to early spring, so the layer of frost is getting thicker in each image, slowly encasing the lander,” says NASA. “The maximum thickness was expected to be on the order of tens of centimetres, which would have reached its peak in September 2009.”
Whether Phoenix will live up to its name remains to be seen. It stopped communicating with Earth last November and NASA will start listening in 2010 to see if it is able to re-establish contact after the frost melts.
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Comments
Solid carbon dioxide does not melt - certainly not with 7 torr ambient pressure. Dry Ice sublimates. If the Martian atmosphere is condensing saturated with CO2, where is Global Warming?
Posted by: Uncle Al | November 5, 2009 04:28 PM
RE: Global Warming on Earth vs. on Mars!?
@Uncle Al, I think you have had raised a very interesting question!
However, on second thought, in the planetary-ecosystem studies of Earth and Mars, one must not attempt so readily, to compare the textures of an orange (Mars) to an apple (Earth), so to speak!?
I think the Global Warming on Earth is caused by the Green House Effect of our Biosphere: by the increasing production of CO2 and other manmade Pollutants in the Atmosphere, since the Industrial Revolution in England -- and now, the Global Industrial Revolution has taken place, since the economic organizations and rises of the developing BRIC nations (as exemplified by Brazil, Russia, India, China; and their associated nations) at the end of the 20th century!?
Whereas on Mars, there has not been observed, nor detected, to have had such a vital or viable Global Biosphere, in its entire planetary history. Therefore, there would be no such a Global Green House Effect or Warming, to be effectively or solely caused by the CO2-saturated Atmosphere on Mars!?
[BTW, the video report by Anjali Nayar on “Can Madagascar’s forests be saved?” is excellent!]
Best wishes, Mong 11/5/9usct12:41p; practical science-philosophy critic; author "Decoding Scientism" and "Consciousness & the Subconscious" (works in progress since July 2007), Gods, Genes, Conscience (iUniverse; 2006) and Gods, Genes, Conscience: Global Dialogues Now (blogging avidly since 2006).
Posted by: Mong H Tan, PhD | November 5, 2009 06:39 PM