The Daily Croissant

Eclectic Perambulations in the Noosphere

  • Should We Terraform Mars ?

    • 5 Jan 2012
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    • January 05 2012 Mars Terraforming
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    via universetoday.com

    See also this excellent paper by astrobiologist Chris McKay.
    From the summary:

    “Planetary ecosynthesis on Mars is being seriously discussed within the field of planetary science. It appears that restoring a thick atmosphere on Mars and the recreation of an environment habitable to many forms of life is possible. It is important now to consider if it “should” be done. To do this takes us into new and interesting territory in environmental ethics but both utilitarian and intrinsic worth arguments support the notion of planetary ecosynthesis. Strict preservationism arguments do not. It is important to have the long-term view of life on Mars and the possibilities of planetary ecosynthesis. This affects how we explore Mars now. Mars may well be our first step out into the biological universe, it is a step we should take carefully.”

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  • Missions to Mars...

    • 6 Dec 2011
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    • 05December11 Infographic Mars Missions Space Flight
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    Media_httpfastcachega_clngx

    Infographic via Brian Crystie Design  

    "You can enjoy looking back through history at all the missions we've launched to the Red Planet — and where they are now....When you look at something like this, you realize that humans really aren't going to give up on the dream of going to space any time soon. Look how many times we've already hurled our spacecraft at Mars ! And we've only been launching missions to space for a little over half a century."

    via io9.com

     

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  • MRO Spots Martian Dunes in Motion

    • 25 Nov 2011
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    • 24November11 MRO Mars Sand Dunes
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    A rippled dune near Herschel crater undulates in the thin Martian wind.

     

    The dark sand of this barchan dune changes position between June 15, 2008 and May 21, 2010.

     

    "The benefit of long-term observations from orbit became evident today with the release of images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter showing the subtly shifting motion of large sand dunes on the red planet, proving that the surface of Mars is much more dynamic than previously believed !"
    via universetoday.com

     

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  • Battered Tharsis Tholus Volcano on Mars

    • 17 Nov 2011
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    • 16November11 Astronomy Mars Volcanoes
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    Media_httpdownloadesa_ieiad

    The latest image released from Mars Express reveals a large extinct volcano that has been battered and deformed over the aeons.

    By Earthly standards, Tharsis Tholus is a giant, towering 8 km above the surrounding terrain, with a base stretching over 155 x 125 km. Yet on Mars, it is just an average-sized volcano. What marks it out as unusual is its battered condition.

    Shown here in images taken by the HRSC high-resolution stereo camera on ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, the volcanic edifice has been marked by dramatic events.

    via esa.int

     

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  • Colorful Planet Mars - North Polar Layered Deposits Exposed

    • 7 Nov 2011
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    • 06November11 Astronomy Mars
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    Media_httpiimgurcomqw_jtrii
    via triggerpit.com

     

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  • White Rock Fingers on Mars

    • 2 Nov 2011
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    • 01November11 Mars
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    Media_httpapodnasagov_ahcjk
    "What caused this unusual light rock formation on Mars ? Intrigued by the possibility that they could be salt deposits left over as an ancient lakebed dried-up, detailed studies of these fingers now indicate a more mundane possibility: volcanic ash. Studying the exact color of the formation indicated the possible volcanic origin. The light material appears to have eroded away from surrounding area, indicating a very low-density substance. The stark contrast between the rocks and the surrounding sand is compounded by the unusual darkness of the sand. The above picture was taken with the Thermal Emission Imaging System on the Mars Odyssey spacecraft currently orbiting Mars. The image spans about 10 kilometers inside a larger crater."
    via apod.nasa.gov

     

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  • Ganymede : Geologic Map of the Uruk Sulcus Region

    • 31 Oct 2011
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    • 30October11 Astronomy Geology Maps Mars
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    Media_httpastrogeolog_jnchy
    "This geologic map of the Uruk Sulcus region of Jupiter's moon, Gaymede, were created using images from the Voyager mission. The creators of the map looked at albedo, surface morphology and texture, and crater densities on the images to distinguish one geologic unit from another."
    via astrogeology.usgs.gov

     

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  • Landforms in Athabasca Valles

    • 29 Oct 2011
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    • 28October11 Landforms Mars
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    Media_httpiimgurcomyj_hauch
    via triggerpit.com

     

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  • Colorful Planet Mars - Cratered Cones in Utopia Planitia

    • 28 Oct 2011
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    • 27October11 Craters Mars
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    Media_httpiimgurcomwy_fcaic
    "Cratered Cones in Utopia Planitia Cone-shaped hills with summit depressions or craters similar to the two examples in this image are common in the northern mid-latitudes of Mars. Their occurrence in plains that are likely to be volcanic in origin, and their shape that is similar to small explosive cones on Earth, are evidence for a volcanic genesis of these cones. But the details of the surrounding area and the cones, in this case, demonstrate they are too battered by small impact craters and erosion in general to allow a definitive interpretation. They could also be simply erosional outliers of an older terrain. Or, they may be non-volcanic features similar to certain ice-related hills on Earth."
    Written by: L. Crumpler  
    via triggerpit.com

     

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  • Colorful Planet Mars : Polar Sand Dunes

    • 26 Oct 2011
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    • 25October11 Mars
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    Media_httpiimgurcomx9_zakcj
    via triggerpit.com

     

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