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[ElectricBlue187]

Man, that's nice.

Do they know what the temperature is like on Mars yet?

Its a frozen wasteland

Well, its a classic question "Where are the aliens?".

1. Through random luck, we are the first civilization capable of reaching the technological singularity. Unlikely but perfectly possible.
2. Speed of light in uncrackable and alien civilizations are far enough away that we never meet, even if there are billions across the cosmos.
3. They have arrived and are like totally cool and avoid contacting us to let us develop on our own.
4. They're already dead. Achieving singularity is always an mass extinction causing event. Unlikely but perfectly possible.

unless there is some sort of physical restriction that cannot be changed (ie speed of light) then a singularity would just fan out and take over everything in the universe, every star and system would be converted into greater computational power for the singularity. So if a singularity has happened, its bad news for us

 

[noah111]

First panorama view, you can get a really good sense of the rim in the distance;

 

[gutshot]

Man, that's nice.

Do they know what the temperature is like on Mars yet?

Yes... it's a bit chilly.

Martian surface temperatures vary from lows of about −87 °C (−125 °F) during the polar winters to highs of up to −5 °C (23 °F) in summers.

 

[ced]

Yes... it's a bit chilly.

So there could certainly be liquid water underground in certain regions then? Or does Mars lack a molten core anymore due to it's lack of a magnetosphere?

 

[danwarb]

Salty liquid water on the surface is one explanation for all those martian gullies.

 

[gutshot]

Something I just thought of, the summers on Mars are cold, but not life-threateningly cold. Could an astronaut walk on the surface with nothing but some cold-weather gear (parka, gloves, boots, etc.) and a respirator?

 

[Ramma2]

Something I just thought of, the summers on Mars are cold, but not life-threateningly cold. Could an astronaut walk on the surface with nothing but some cold-weather gear (parka, gloves, boots, etc.) and a respirator?

Too awesome to even comprehend.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Something I just thought of, the summers on Mars are cold, but not life-threateningly cold. Could an astronaut walk on the surface with nothing but some cold-weather gear (parka, gloves, boots, etc.) and a respirator?

The atmosphere is so tenuous he would pretty much die in much the same fashion as going out in space with just winter clothes and a respirator.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

The atmosphere is so tenuous he would pretty much die in much the same fashion as going out in space with just winter clothes and a respirator.

ArnoldsFaceTotalRecall.gif

 

[gutshot]

The atmosphere is so tenuous he would pretty much die in much the same fashion as going out in space with just winter clothes and a respirator.

Deep space is much colder and, of course, is zero pressure. I know the atmosphere on Mars is thin, but I didn't think it was that thin.

I forgot about the radiation though. He would need protection from that.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

Deep space is much colder and, of course, is zero pressure. I know the atmosphere on Mars is thin, but I didn't think it was that thin.

I forgot about the radiation though. He would need protection from that.

Isn't radiation the reason structures on Mars would need to underground?

 

[Mistouze]

Something I just thought of, the summers on Mars are cold, but not life-threateningly cold. Could an astronaut walk on the surface with nothing but some cold-weather gear (parka, gloves, boots, etc.) and a respirator?

I wanted to believe too but as Log4Girlz said above the pressure is way too low. Earth atmospheric pressure is around 10^5Pa whereas on Mars it's around 600Pa...

 

[Graphics Horse]

I wanted to believe too but as Log4Girlz said above the pressure is way too low. Earth atmospheric pressure is around 10^5Pa whereas on Mars it's around 600Pa...

We need to start shipping more air there. We have the technology...

 

[danwarb]

Atmosphere on Mars is about 1/30th the pressure of the peak of Everest, at its depths.

 

[Dilly]

So there could certainly be liquid water underground in certain regions then? Or does Mars lack a molten core anymore due to it's lack of a magnetosphere?

Other way round.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Isn't radiation the reason structures on Mars would need to underground?

Yes, because of its shit atmosphere and lack of a magnetic field, radiation from space has little blocking it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars

The atmospheric pressure on the surface of Mars varies from around 30 pascals (0.0044 psi) on Olympus Mons's peak to over 1,155 pascals (0.1675 psi) in the depths of Hellas Planitia, with a mean surface level pressure of 600 pascals (0.087 psi), compared to Earth's sea level average of 101.3 kilopascals (14.69 psi), and a total mass of 25 teratonnes, compared to Earth's 5148 teratonnes. However, the scale height of the atmosphere is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi), somewhat higher than Earth's 7 kilometres (4.3 mi). The atmosphere on Mars consists of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, and contains traces of oxygen, water, and methane, for a mean molar mass of 43.34 g/mol.[1][5] The atmosphere is quite dusty, giving the Martian sky a light brown or orange color when seen from the surface; data from the Mars Exploration Rovers indicate that suspended dust particles within the atmosphere are roughly 1.5 micrometres across.[6]

 

[gutshot]

I wanted to believe too but as Log4Girlz said above the pressure is way too low. Earth atmospheric pressure is around 10^5Pa whereas on Mars it's around 600Pa...

Yeah, just read that on Wikipedia. Didn't realize it was so thin. Too bad, that would have been cool.

While on Wiki, I also found this picture of a Martian sunset. Amazing.


(Click for full resolution)

 

[Graphics Horse]

Surely there must be some earth bacteria that could breed on Mars...

 

[fabricated backlash]

Yeah, just read that on Wikipedia. Didn't realize it was so thin. Too bad, that would have been cool.

While on Wiki, I also found this picture of a Martian sunset. Amazing.


(Click for full resolution)

It's amazing that such a boring and dull looking panorama can excite me that much. If this were anywhere on earth it would be like the worst sunset photograph ever.

I hope we're going to get some "clear sky" images in the future. Would be interesting how the colours would change under different light and atmospherical situations.

Edit: Also, I'm allready sensing conspiracy nuts to search every last pixel on this image for signs that only they can see lol.

 

[danwarb]

If you could just stir up all that CO2 at the martian poles, pressure and temperature might increase enough for a walk about on the surface.

 

[Leeroy3101]

First panorama view, you can get a really good sense of the rim in the distance;

That mountain range is impressive. It's ridiculous to think this rover is about to go climb some of that.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Yeah, just read that on Wikipedia. Didn't realize it was so thin. Too bad, that would have been cool.

While on Wiki, I also found this picture of a Martian sunset. Amazing.


(Click for full resolution)

One day we may be able to alter ourselves so that we can live without the need for constant air pressure, and basically walk around in just winter clothes and an oxygen mask.

Surely there must be some earth bacteria that could breed on Mars...

Most certainly. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the germs that hopped aboard every single landing thus far have survived for a length of time.

 

[danwarb]

An explanation for methane found in the atmosphere, where levels change with the seasons, is life on mars presently.

 

[ced]

Other way round.

Yeah that's what I meant, so it's presumably cold in the core?

An explanation for methane found in the atmosphere, where levels change with the seasons, is life on mars presently.

There are also geologic explanations out there, but life is much more exciting, I think Curiosity has some tools to test just this.

 

[Log4Girlz]

An explanation for methane found in the atmosphere, where levels change with the seasons, is life on mars presently.

This is true. To be precise, its me. I'm posting from mars...and I like me some tacos.

 

[gutshot]

Most certainly. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the germs that hopped aboard every single landing thus far have survived for a length of time.

I have no doubt they could survive on Mars. But could they survive the trip?

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Wow, quite a bit of debris has been kicked up. Imagine the mess after landing without the sky crane.

 

[Log4Girlz]

I have no doubt they could survive on Mars. But could they survive the trip?

Well, terrestrial bacteria survived to the Moon and back, and there are many nooks and crannies on a spaceship. They try to sanitize everything, but they simply can't get into every space.

 

[mr_nothin]

$2.5 Billion piece of equipment?
Expose all of the wires

 

[Bisnic]

Yeah, just read that on Wikipedia. Didn't realize it was so thin. Too bad, that would have been cool.

While on Wiki, I also found this picture of a Martian sunset. Amazing.


(Click for full resolution)

Mars feel like Tatooine distant twin.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

This is true. To be precise, its me. I'm posting from mars...and I like me some tacos.

What farts on Mars, likes Mexican bars, rolls over your expensive rover...

It fucks up your data, then says "see ya later", your whole mission's over...

 

[Partial Gamification]

Mars feel like Tatooine distant twin.

Not quite so distant when one realizes Tatooine is in Tunisia.

 

[Log4Girlz]

What farts on Mars, likes Mexican bars, rolls over your expensive rover...

It fucks up your data, then says "see ya later", your whole mission's over...

*slow clap*

 

[RiZ III]

Yeah that's what I meant, so it's presumably cold in the core

Yup. Also why it doesn't have plate tectonics which leads to the unanswered question of how it has mountains.

 

[gutshot]

Yup. Also why it doesn't have plate tectonics which leads to the unanswered question of how it has mountains.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Yup. Also why it doesn't have plate tectonics which leads to the unanswered question of how it has mountains.

It may have been active in its past, I think every rocky planet was molten all the way through at one point. Additionally mountains can form from the contraction of planets during cooling, like on Mercury.

 

[TTOOLL]

$2.5 Billion piece of equipment?
Expose all of the wires

I was thinking about this too, of course those must be some fucking resistant wires enclosed in some fucking resistant (and expensive) material.

The only reason I can think of is weight reduce.

 

[ced]

It may have been active in its past, I think every rocky planet was molten all the way through at one point. Additionally mountains can form from the contraction of planets during cooling, like on Mercury.

Yep, I mean we know it had liquid (I assume water) on it's surface in the past, and most likely a thicker atmosphere, so it's presumable it also had a molten core that cooled off. Mars is smaller than Earth so it would cool quicker, but it could also mean it had all that long before Earth.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

It may have been active in its past, I think every rocky planet was molten all the way through at one point. Additionally mountains can form from the contraction of planets during cooling, like on Mercury.

Also, Olympus Mons is a pretty clear indication that the planet had some kind of internal heat at some point.

At any rate, the mountains and valleys Earth has are pretty insignificant irregularities regardless of origin. My understanding is that if the Earth was the size of a cue ball, the grooves and bumps from the deepest trenches to the tallest mountains wouldn't even be noticeable and it would be the smoothest cue ball ever made.

 

[fanboi]

So... what killed Mars?

 

[marrec]

I was thinking about this too, of course those must be some fucking resistant wires enclosed in some fucking resistant (and expensive) material.

The only reason I can think of is weight reduce.

Well the temperature extremes on Mars are not likely to be damaging to the wire and the dust can be easily protected from so that leaves cosmic radiation which is what I imagine most of the shielding is for.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Also, Olympus Mons is a pretty clear indication that the planet had some kind of internal heat at some point.

At any rate, the mountains and valleys Earth has are pretty insignificant irregularities regardless of origin. My understanding is that if the Earth was the size of a cue ball, the grooves and bumps from the deepest trenches to the tallest mountains wouldn't even be noticeable and it would be the smoothest cue ball ever made.

Its compared to a ball-bearing often enough. Saw this on another site and thought I would share

From the surface of the ocean, the Marianas Trench is 6.8 miles deep and Mt. Kilimanjaro is 3.7 miles high. So in total, that's a maximum difference of 10.5 miles for the surface of the planet. The Earth is about 4000 miles in radius. A pool ball is maybe an inch to an inch and a half in radius. Do you think you can perceive 2.6 thousandths of an inch (6.6 hundredths of a millimeter)?

And really we should take out the Marianas Trench since the spherocity of the Earth is aided by the ocean. So our 10.5 should be shrunk back to the 3.7 above the ocean.

(Though actually the bulge of the equator gives a total of 13 miles difference, which is the greatest overall difference, but is a smooth gradient rather than a bump like a mountain or trench.)

So... what killed Mars?

Geologically? Probably its small size. Core froze relatively quickly, magnetic field stopped, solar wind stripped the atmosphere away, water all dried up.

 

[ced]

So... what killed Mars?

I think the most popular explanation is that its core cooled and everything went afterwards.

 

[fanboi]

Can that happen on erf?

 

[Insane Metal]

Yep, I mean we know it had liquid (I assume water) on it's surface in the past, and most likely a thicker atmosphere, so it's presumable it also had a molten core that cooled off. Mars is smaller than Earth so it would cool quicker, but it could also mean it had all that long before Earth.

Yeah, probably. Mars is just so fascinating.

 

[ced]

Can that happen on erf?

Not a can, but when. Millions or billions of years?

 

[kingslunk]

http://panoramas.dk/mars/greeley-haven.html

Has this been posted yet?

 

[Log4Girlz]

Can that happen on erf?

Realistically no, the sun will engulf us before we totally run out of heat. The earth is fucking hot inside.

 

[ced]

Yeah, probably. Mars is just so fascinating.

Which could also mean life took a trip from Mars to Earth and got it all started...

I hope Curiosity can find some hard evidence of past life, even if microscopic. How amazing would it be if it takes a picture of a fossil since it's sitting in a sea bed that has layers stripped off.

 

[Jburton]

Also, Olympus Mons is a pretty clear indication that the planet had some kind of internal heat at some point.

At any rate, the mountains and valleys Earth has are pretty insignificant irregularities regardless of origin. My understanding is that if the Earth was the size of a cue ball, the grooves and bumps from the deepest trenches to the tallest mountains wouldn't even be noticeable and it would be the smoothest cue ball ever made.

The effects of erosion greatly diminish the size and stature of Earths geological extremes.

Mt. Everest was much higher than it is today etc.


Mars has a a smaller mass which would mean less internal pressure maintaining the high temperatures that keep Earths core molten.


Mars is mostly a victim of its size.