Mars2005

1
Mars-2005
2
Two Reasons Why Mars is of Interest Now

• It is prominent in the night sky (brightest on
  November 5)
  
• There have been major new discoveries about Mars
  in the past 10 years.
  
• Where is Mars in the solar system?

3
Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system
4
Mars is the most Earth-like of the other planets
5
But not too Earthlike
6
Reasons why scientists are interested in Mars

• Mars is the best test case for the origin of
  life on another astronomical object.
  
• Either life arose there in the early history of
  the solar system or it didnt. The significance
  of a negative result depends on Martian
  conditions at that time.
• The central issue is water on Mars.

7
(No Transcript)
8
For Mars, the main scientific question is the
existence of water in the remote past

• Mars Explorations Rovers (Spirit and
  Opportunity are extensively studying two
  regions on the surface of Mars, both chosen for
  possibility of water

9
We are on the way to the answer, thanks to
robotic spacecraft
10
The MER (Mars Exploration Rover) Mission

• Mobile, remote-controlled spacecraft
• Have self-contained labs and instruments
• Both have been on Mars since January, 2004
• They are in 554 Martian day of operation, 464 MD
  past warranty

11
MER landing sites chosen to be places that seemed
to be sites of water

• Spirit Gusev crater crater with apparent
  ancient river flowing into it.
  
• Opportunity Meridiani Planum site with
  signature of mineral hematite, mineral which
  forms in the presence of water on Earth

12
How the MER spacecraft (and others) have changed
our view of Mars
From this
13
To This..
14
The View From Spirit (MER-1)
15
Aquatic past of Opportunity landing site from
detailed analysis of rock outcropping
16
Scientific Conclusions from MER analysis

• Landing site described as once being soaking
  wet
  
• Deposits of hydrated sulfur salts
• Presence of mineral jarosite (forms in presence
  of water on Earth)
  
• Pockmarks in rocks believed due to mineral
  pockets dissolvedrocks were submerged
  
• Ripple patterns in rocks indicating past lakes or
  oceans

17
What have we learned?

• The Mars Exploration Rovers have strengthened
  evidence that there was extensive surface water
  on Mars billions of years ago. Future missions
  will further elucidate the geological and
  biological (?) history of Mars.

18
See Mars in the Sky this Summer and Fall!