Astronomers Monitor Asteroid To Pass Near Mars

Astronomers funded by NASA are monitoring the trajectory of an asteroid estimated to be 164 feet wide that is expected to cross Mars' orbital path early next year.

The asteroid was initially being monitored by The Near Earth Object Observation Program, commonly called "Spaceguard,” to determine if any could be potentially hazardous to our planet. It was determined that the asteroid will not be a threat to earth but it may however, potentially impact mars.

Because of current uncertainties about the asteroid's exact orbit, there is a 1-in-75 chance of the asteroid impacting Mars. “We estimate such impacts occur on Mars every thousand years or so” said Steve Chesley, a scientist at JPL. If the asteroid were to collide with mars, it is calculated that it would hit at 30,000 mph and could create a crater over half a mile wide.

NASA Mars Rover Spirit Scouts "Home Plate" for Safe Haven

Monday, December 17, 2007

Spirit has arrived at the north edge of "Home Plate." The rover will spend the next few Martian days, or sols, scouting the edge of Home Plate and acquiring images of the slopes to determine the best site for "Winter Haven 3," where Spirit will try to survive another season of minimal sunlight. Once the team selects a site, Spirit will drive down the north-facing edge of Home Plate and maneuver into position to achieve the highest northerly tilt possible.

Power levels are dropping rapidly, partly because the sun continues its retreat north on its way to winter solstice, and partly because the landscape tilts slightly southward near the rim. Drive sols are so precious and few, the team has been working long hours and weekends to make the most of the remaining sunlight.

Orbiter explains bizarre Mars textures

High resolution images taken form the Mars reconnaissance orbiter are helping to explain some strange textures near the planets south pole.

Previously research had described the surface of the southern region, specifically Ithaca, as having spidery, lace-like, and lizard-skin texture.

the new images are leading researchers to believe that the lighter-colored patches are caused by frozen carbon dioxide

"The researchers think the jets contain gaseous carbon dioxide. When it bursts free, it expands and cools, and some is deposited as frost in the smudges. The
darker areas are believed to be composed of dust," NASA said.

Researchers believe that the carbon dioxide freezes in the winter and thaws in the summer. Subsequently, the gas travels upward, underneath the frozen caps, and carves channels along the way.

Mars Rovers Explore Possibility of Acidic Steam

As Spirit makes its way to a wintering spot, scientists are trying to make sense of a patch of nearly pure silica the rover found. The silica was so concentrated scientists believe steam must have been involved in ways similar to geologic formations seen on Earth called fumaroles which are seen in places like Hawaii and Iceland but are different from the mineral deposits seen in hot springs. While several possibilities exist for the formation of the silica patch, the presence of titanium is indicative of fumarole-type formation. Researchers are using both rovers now to look for signs of similar patches, with hope that a find by Opportunity, on the other side of the planet, will provide more general evidence for the role of water in the planet's past. The article can be found here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071212000742.htm

NASA and Other Nations Start Planning Mars Soil Return Mission

NASA and the space agencies of Europe, Canada, and Japan, to name a few, have begun preliminary work planning a Mars mission to return soil samples, set to launch in the next decade. The group recently met and is giving an open invitation to all space-faring nations to take part in the collaboration. The possibility of returning samples would allow scientists to do much more in depth analysis of soil composition and also testing for biological presence. The article gave no indication of a set timeframe for the mission.

plate tectonics

NASA scientists have created a map of Mars crustal magnetism using data collected by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. This high resolution magnetic field map covers the entire surface of Mars and displays "magnetic stripes" similar to what are found in the Earth's ocean basins. These stripes and other features are interpreted by NASA scientists as being evidence that Mars has undergone plate tectonics.

http://geology.com/news/2005/11/mars-geology-and-plate-tectonics.html

High Resolution Images of Noctis Labyrinthus

The High-Resolution Sterio Camera (HRSC) on board the Mars Express recently imaged the Noctis Labrinthus region. In the image above, the sun illuminates the image from the north-west. This area is located on the western edge of the Valles Marineris, the ‘Grand Canyon’ of Mars. Its name comes from the twisting, labyrinthine fractures and geography of the region. The Noctis Labrinthus is a complex example of a geological feature called a graben. This graben was formed by extensional tectonics and intense volcanic activity in the Tharsis region resulting in tectonic stress. The scene in the picture illustrates the intensely eroded 5000m deep incisions. Younger rock formations are visible on the upper edge of the graben. This image was also produced using a digital terrain model derived from the sterio channels of Mars Express.