I have seen white stuff in NASA World Winds mars edition. Is it snow? Or just some type of mineral?
2006-10-28 05:38:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
yes its is, that's why we think its possible to send a human colony there, we could melt this snow and use it to create life on the planet.
2006-10-28 07:39:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is ice on the poles of Mars... The main reason the ice doesnt not turn into liquid water when it melts is due to the atmospheric pressure. Water boils on earth at an average of 212 degrees F... but did you know that at different locations and elevations water will boil at different temps?... this is the case on Mars. The ice would definately turn to water when it melted but the conditions of Mars will not allow it to. Before it has a chance to go from a solid to a liquid, the pressure on the planet causes the water to boil at a much cooler rate, causing it to evaporate instantaneously. If you look at the surface of Mars, you will see many canals that many believe could have only been formed rivers which decayed the land to form these canals. Supposedly, Mars once had an atmosphere much like earths but over time sort of fell apart causing the pressure to change in a way that water was no longer able to form lakes and rivers.
2006-10-28 13:51:41 · answer #2 · answered by NoMercy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On steep slopes in martian craters, recently melting snow may have created a system of gullies, says Philip Christensen, the principal investigator for the Mars Odyssey THEMIS camera system and a professor from Arizona State University. He says that the melted water collecting underneath these snow packs also could have created an ideal abode for life.
"I think we have discovered remnants of snow packs on Mars that in the recent past have melted," says Christensen. "I think if you were to land on one of those and stick a shovel in the ground, you'd be shoveling snow. And if life ever existed on Mars, I can't think of a more exciting place to possibly go and look."
2006-10-28 12:44:26 · answer #3 · answered by o Robin o 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is water on Mars' poles, and we're planning to send a bunch of satelittes up there to melt the ice, create an atmosphere, and over time make the planet liveable
2006-10-28 12:42:43 · answer #4 · answered by • Nick • 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's co2 and h20. there is water vapor in mars atmosphere which has been detected in minute amounts. i think most of the water-ice is located near the poles and covered with co2 ice. during the viking mission there are photos of snow on the ground. although it might have been frost.
2006-10-28 13:07:44 · answer #5 · answered by timespiral 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes there is form of ice covering rock on da poles which is also a form of water that is a significant factor of life. well it would'nt matter that much to have ice covered rocks on mars because when they melt all the waters would be soaked out of the planet because of the planet's atmosphere is so thin.
2006-10-28 13:00:12 · answer #6 · answered by Sean J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the north pole of Mars there is large source of frozen waterice and in the south pole it is mostly frozen carbon dioxide.
2006-10-28 16:02:06 · answer #7 · answered by Dark Viper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of it is frozen carbon dioxide, you know, dry ice. There are trace amounts of water, wouldn't call it snow (it didn't have enough atmosphere to condense and fall).
2006-10-28 12:52:30 · answer #8 · answered by Lightbringer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes mostly dry ice (CO2) "snow"
2006-10-28 12:41:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋