scientist have made a surprising discovery on Mars , namely that water system - ice seems to be present under the surface in some area near its equator .
The find , led by Jack Wilson from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland , was made by looking at former datum from NASA ’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft . The findings are published in the journalIcarus .
They studied a neighborhood on Mars predict theMedusae Fossae Formation , which is very almost smacking - bang on the equator . The spacecraft had take image of this and other regions on Mars , but by using image - reconstruction techniques , the squad were able to essentially cut back the spacecraft ’s altitude in half to get a better view .
While Odyssey ca n’t directly discover piddle , it can observe atomic number 1 , and that ’s what the research worker find . It was right smart more atomic number 1 than would be expect at the equator , suggesting that water - methamphetamine hydrochloride is buried under the open .
Such a determination ca n’t definitively be discover as water - ice yet , as there are possible other source . These include possible deposit of hydrous salts , or the hydrogen could come from other compounds likechlorine .
But elsewhere on Mars , we ’ve realize great amounts of hydrogen where we do await to find water - frappe . In 2002 , for example , Odyssey found abundant hydrogen at high parallel of latitude , which was confirmed as being from water in 2008 by NASA ’s Phoenix lander .
However , while this makes sense at the perch , it does not at the equator . Ice here should not be able to last more than about125,000 years . This is because it should sublimate ( move around from solid to gas ) into the atmosphere , as the pressure here is just 0.6 percent earthly concern ’s .
If ice is confirmed to be present at the equator , it would propose the tilt of Mars has change . At the present moment , it ’s at an angle of 25 degrees , but it was about 45 degrees a few million years ago , which could excuse the presence of ice .
Water - ice here would have a numeral of benefits . There ’s a small chance it could rise to the surface and mellow , providing a habitat for microbes . as enticingly , it could be used as fuel by future human explorer , reducing the amount of fuel they need to take with them .
“ So for now , the signature tune remains a mystery story worthy of further survey , and Mars continue to storm us , ” Wilson said in astatement .
