Have Some Salt with your Water, Mars

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been orbiting Mars since 2006, but some recent pictures taken by the powerful camera aboard this vessel are giving us something new to consider. The camera, HiRISE, allows us to see extremely detailed images from the Mars and showed some craters that give scientists reason to believe there is presence of flowing, liquid water. Since this type of water is an essential ingredient for life on any planet, it could change what we know about Mars.

There are several images of long brown streaks that appeared in the Martian spring and summer. These streaks weren't visible during the cold season and this causes scientists to believe they might be flowing water. There is no proof of water on Mars, but the images help to support the evidence that other probes have reported, such as the existence of deep Martian canyons that water may have carved out. The water would most likely be very salty, explaining its low freezing point. This would also be because Mars is so much farther away from the sun than Earth, around 35 million miles farther.

{images via NASA, Washington Post}

The Luck of the Irish...in Space?

{image CREDIT: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC via NASA}

Many people celebrate the traditionally Irish holiday of St. Patrick's day by wearing green and attending festivals or other fun events. To honor old St. Pat here on the Space Log, we're showing you an image of his homeland, Ireland, that was taken from space! It isn't hard to see why Ireland is nicknamed "the Emerald Isle" from its vast green landscape. This image was taken in 2003 by NASA's Aqua Satellite.

Can you see the blue-green water on the right side of the island? Those are ribbons of phytoplankton that are found in the Celtic Sea. Ireland is usually obscured from space by the many clouds which fill the sky above it, but this image was taken in a moment when the clouds parted and gave way to a perfect view.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Janet's Planet! Wishing you all the luck of the Irish today!