The Phoenix lander aimed a laser at the clouds and found ice crystals about two miles above the surface. Mission scientists hope to see snow actually fall to the ground. NASA says the snow is water-based. Mars is too warm to support frozen carbon dioxide. “Scientists are able to determine that the snow is water-based and not carbon-dioxide snow, since temperatures on Mars are currently too warm to support the latter,” NASA adds.–Setting-the-record-straight-Tom
There’s also geological evidence of past liquid water on the planet.
Bonus cool thing:
Peter Smith, the lead scientist for the mission from the University of Arizona, said the team is going to try something new in the last weeks of Phoenix’s life.
The lander carried a microphone, which was designed to listen to the roar of the descent engines as the craft settled onto the Martian surface. The microphone was not used then. Now, Smith said, the scientific team intends to turn on the microphone “and listen to Mars for the first time.”
[Lidar chart: NASA, JPL-Caltech, U of Arizona, Canadian Space Agency]
What are you talking about, there are tons of frozen CO2 at the poles, just not where the Phoenix lander is.
If you don’t pay attention to the details, how can anyone believe anything on this site. Chop chop.
In Tom’s defence, Malcolm, he’s quoting the linked NASA article. Though that article does state “currently”, as it’s summertime still (on Mars, if not here), so you’re kinda both right.
My bad. Fixed. Thanks, Malcolm, and for the words of defense, Paul, even though I actually did goof.
But Mars really is lovely this time of year.