Scientists have found on Mars ice where it should not be

Date:

2017-08-18 11:00:07

Views:

3313

Rating:

1Like 0Dislike

Share:

Scientists have found on Mars ice where it should not be Source:

Careful analysis of the data with the oldest, but still functioning Mars orbiting satellite space Agency NASA has led to results that scientists did not expect: the Red planet hides water ice where it shouldn't be.

Re-checking the data received from the probe Mars Odyssey, discovered an impressive stock of water ice under the surface of the Martian equator. But given our knowledge of the climate of this planet, this element is clearly there.

A Reassessment of the data was conducted by the team led by planetary scientists Jack Wilson from Johns Hopkins University. The researchers analyzed data collected by the neutron spectrometer probe "Odyssey", which showed the presence of hydrogen near the surface of Mars. One of the key objectives of the probe is the search for water on the red planet, however, due to the specific orbit, the height of which sometimes reaches 3800 kilometers above the planet's surface, the probe is not able directly to carry out the necessary measurements. However, an indicator of its existence was hydrogen. The level probe to directly measure too, can not, he is only able to detect the presence of, based on neutrons, which it can detect when the particles of cosmic rays collide with the atoms of the Martian surface.

Such is feature has allowed Odyssey to discover hidden water ice on the red planet in 2002, but at that time the data indicated that the opening was mainly due to the poles of the planet. And it turned out to be quite justified, because scientists have always believed that around the equator of Mars, the ice is not able to stay long in the soil as the temperature conditions in this region clearly show that it needs to sublimate (evaporate) into the atmosphere.

Using the method of Bayesian probability, scientists have reconstructed images of regions to obtain a more complete picture of the discovery of "Odysseus" of the above neutrons. As a result, the researchers found that the presence of the alleged and previously discovered reservoirs, including those in the latitudes of the equator of the planet.

"It's the same as if we lowered the spacecraft to nearly half of current height and saw a few new things on the surface that were invisible before this," — said Wilson portal New Scientist.

"it was previously known that the ice may be hiding under the surface at the poles of the planet. We also saw the small deposits near the equator."

This is a very important discovery, as it increases the potential suitability of the planet for the colonization, at the expense of more widespread availability of the required resources. But before actually to fly there, need to figure something out. Namely, how the ice got there.

Sam Wilson suggests that Mars once in his past could hold the axis of rotation, which was stronger tilted with respect to its current position. The research team believes that if the axis of the red planet several million years ago was rejected by 20 degrees compared to the current location, it is likely that the poles for ice to sublimate into the atmosphere, and then ultimately redistributed in these reservoirs, located in the lower latitudes.

However, scientists understand that other explanations for this phenomenon may be more likely. For example, the Martian soil has certain properties that allow water ice to be under the surface and to resist evaporation.

In General, to clarify this issue for sure and decide which of these hypotheses is most likely, you will need to conduct additional studies. However, it becomes clear that from time to time to the old studies also need to return – and suddenly missed anything interesting?

"This is a marvelous example of how when the collected data can be analyzed again using the new methods and technologies" — says planetary geologist Jim head from brown University, not involved in this study.

"We ever send humans to Mars. I would like to send it there where there is water."

The results of the latest research was published in the journal Icarus.

Recommended

Can genes create the perfect diet for you?

Can genes create the perfect diet for you?

Diet on genotype can be a way out for many, but it still has a lot of questions Don't know what to do to lose weight? DNA tests promise to help you with this. They will be able to develop the most individual diet, because for this they will use the m...

How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?

How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?

If aliens exist, why don't we "hear" them? In the 12th episode of Cosmos, which aired on December 14, 1980, co-author and host Carl Sagan introduced viewers to the same equation of astronomer Frank Drake. Using it, he calculated the potential number ...

Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?

Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?

The pain caused to humans by the Gimpi-gympie plant can drive him crazy Many people consider Australia a very dangerous place full of poisonous creatures. And this is a perfectly correct idea, because this continent literally wants to kill everyone w...

Comments (0)

This article has no comment, be the first!

Add comment

Related News

Why do people with confidence are robots who commit mistakes?

Why do people with confidence are robots who commit mistakes?

You may have already seen the "SFII", where the robot tries to put a portable object on the table and finally falls, as if from weakness. If not, she is waiting for you below. The image was created on the basis of a video that rec...

The alcohol helps the fish to survive the harsh winter

The alcohol helps the fish to survive the harsh winter

Nature is full of amazing phenomena. In the course of evolution living organisms have learned to do that still regularly surprise even seasoned scientists. Take for example, goldfish (Carassius auratus) and Golden carp (Carassius ...

The microbes can be a private version of the Internet

The microbes can be a private version of the Internet

the Creation of a huge global network connecting billions of people, can be one of the greatest achievements of mankind to date, but microbes could overtake us in this three billion years. These tiny single-celled organisms are no...

Why nobody knows where half of the heat in the bowels of the Earth?

Why nobody knows where half of the heat in the bowels of the Earth?

Lying in the sun on a warm summer day, not always aware that a significant amount of heat comes from the depths of the Earth. This heat is equivalent to more than three times the energy consumption of the whole world is moving and...

Created a powder able to provide the U.S. army with energy

Created a powder able to provide the U.S. army with energy

Modern army in most cases relies on various equipment and devices from . But what if all the batteries are in the progress of multi-day combat operation was set, and the generator is not at hand? The us military , even a small han...

Two planets nearest sun-like stars could be habitable

Two planets nearest sun-like stars could be habitable

If you believe the results of a recent study closest to our sun-like star near it can be four presumably sampletable planet, according to astronomers who conducted the study, at least two of these worlds may be inhabited. Star Tau...

Malicious code written in the DNA that can infect computers

Malicious code written in the DNA that can infect computers

This was expected, since the moment when scientists upload digital information macromolecules of deoxyribonucleic acid. For the first time, researchers were able to infect the virus the computer, analyze the DNA, which had made th...

Einstein's theory has passed a major test

Einstein's theory has passed a major test

the Basic laws of physics, from the pen of Isaac Newton in the 17th century, do not work in all cases. One has only to apply them to very fast, almost the speed of light moving objects or things heavier stars, and then they give u...

People can learn new information during sleep

People can learn new information during sleep

Sleep anciently attributed a variety of properties: from quite ordinary functions to a magical holiday and even describe the fact that during sleep the soul leaves the body. But one of the most common modern belief is, perhaps, th...

China will build a

China will build a "Martian" base

the News Agency «Xinhua» reports that scientists are exploring North-West province Quinghai for possible construction «the Martian» base in the local red mountains. Authorities have already given the go-ahead f...

After 40 years of service, the space probes

After 40 years of service, the space probes "Voyager" is still in service

Almost 40 years ago, the spacecraft "Voyager-1 and Voyager-2" went on a journey, eventually becoming the farthest from Earth man-made space objects in the history of space research. In the framework of its missions both probe spen...

In Russia created a working prototype of an unmanned

In Russia created a working prototype of an unmanned "self-helicopter"

the developers of the company «Kronstadt» has developed aircraft that combines the properties of unmanned aircraft and helicopter at the same time. About it RIA Novosti said the Deputy General Director and Director of th...

Microbots-origami caught a yeast cell

Microbots-origami caught a yeast cell

Scientists from the University of North Carolina has published a video in which miniature robots are catching yeast cells. In the video you can see five cubes gently float, but then begin prikleilsya to each other, holding togethe...

Venus once could have entire oceans of water

Venus once could have entire oceans of water

We used to think that among the planets of the Solar system only Mars, of course, if not to take into account the Land itself, can ever be a haven for life. However, according to the latest data, our larger neighbor, Venus, once c...

Presented

Presented "teleport" that can move DNA from Earth to Mars

With the current development of modern technologies of space travel, the road to Mars will take a very long time. But scientists from the California-based Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI) offer to transport the primitive forms of li...

The astronomers have finally discovered one of the secrets of the solar core

The astronomers have finally discovered one of the secrets of the solar core

the Internal structure of the Sun is hidden from our eyes, so it is not surprising that the core of our sun could hide a very interesting secret. For the first time scientists were able to accurately measure the speed of rotation ...

Alzheimer's is a disease found in chimpanzees

Alzheimer's is a disease found in chimpanzees

Alzheimer's Disease today is the most common form of dementia. According to who forecasts, the total number of people who are likely to develop this disease by 2050 could grow to 100 000 people annually. But, according to a study ...

Astronomers may have discovered the first aktolun outside the Solar system

Astronomers may have discovered the first aktolun outside the Solar system

Signal that was able to determine using the space telescope "Kepler" very probably could belong to the first assalone, scientists discovered outside of our Solar system. It was received by the David Kipping and his colleagues from...

We are half composed of matter other galaxies

We are half composed of matter other galaxies

the Findings of the latest research suggests that half (which is much greater than was supposed in earlier studies) of matter in the milky Way, including the atoms of which we are all made, may come from outside our galaxy. Such c...

The Luxembourg law on mining in space will come into force on 1 August

The Luxembourg law on mining in space will come into force on 1 August

the Parliament of Luxembourg worked on the law governing the extraction of minerals, since last year, and now the government of the Duchy have approved it. According to the first article of the law, space resources can be owned by...