The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has just begun its science mission, and one of the first targets is Victoria Crater, where the rover Opportunity has just arrived after nearly 1000 sols on Mars.

The photos, using the largest interplanetary telescope ever lofted, are truly amazing.

See comments for links to original imagery. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

For the first time, satellite imagery reveals thick Martian salt deposits scattered across the planet's southern surface, which one planetary scientist claims could be sites of ancient life. The mats of sodium chloride — the same taste-enhancing mineral found on your kitchen table — serve as more evidence of Mars' watery past, and researchers think the briney pools that made them could... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

Mars was wet in its early history, but today it appears bone dry other than ice below the surface and at the poles. Astronomers have long wondered where all the water went. The water might have been blown into space long ago by strong gusts of solar winds, new satellite observations suggest. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

Nasa is to launch a spacecraft on a nine-month journey to Mars, where it will dig below the surface for clues to the existence of past or present life. picked by pjanaway 1 year ago

NASA has announced a "significant find on Mars": That water may still be flowing on our red neighbour. Source data from the science team is here. picked by BrightonCub 2 years ago

Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen and form the building blocks of all life on Earth. By analyzing organic material and minerals in the Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001, scientists have shown for the first time that building blocks of life formed on Mars early in its history. Previously, scientists have thought that organic material in ALH 84001 was brought to Mars by meteorite impac... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 10 months ago

Life on mars, captured on film by the mars rover!!!

Video version of AutumnLotus' post here for those of you who don't feel like reading. picked by ash0283 9 months ago

Fossil microbes found along an iron-rich river in Spain reveal how signs of life could be preserved in minerals found on Mars. The discovery may help to equip the next generation Mars rover with the tools it would need to find evidence of past life on the planet. picked by AutumnLotus 5 months ago

the Viking spacecraft may have found signs of a weird life form based on hydrogen peroxide picked by Dangerman 1 year ago

Scientists have found signs that water may once have gurgled up through the Martian soil in hydrothermal vents similar to those in Yellowstone National Park. picked by AutumnLotus 5 months ago

After decades of studying the climate conditions of Mars, scientists have recently made a breakthrough observation. Adrian Brown's team found a substantial amount of ephemeral (short lived) water ice in the polar regions of Mars. picked by AutumnLotus 8 months ago

Although many dispute that the atmosphere can support the presence of liquid water, these photos make an interesting case for it! picked by BrownTrout 1 year ago

The most productive and longest-lived mission to Mars has likely ended, NASA says. For nearly ten years, the orbiter mapped the surface of Mars, and it played a big role in selecting the landing sites for the successful Mars Rover missions. A problem with a solar panel joint led to its demise. picked by Fanatic 2 years ago

Spirit and Opportunity, the NASA Mars Rovers, have discovered interesting features that suggest Mars could have supported life at one time, including 'rivers' of frozen carbon dioxide that flow uphill. picked by tundramonkey 10 months ago

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected snow falling from Martian clouds. Spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth. Mars lander makes snow angels. picked by Bornbad 2 weeks ago

Water on Mars was once widespread and long-lasting, providing environments with the potential to support life, a new study finds. picked by AutumnLotus 3 months ago

A study of meteorites suggests that Mars, the Earth and the Moon share a common composition from ‘growing up’ in a unique planetary nursery in the inner solar system.

The finding could lead to a rethink of how the inner solar system formed. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

Mars was covered in an ocean of molten rock for about 100 million years after the planet formed, researchers found. The formation of the solar system can be dated quite accurately to 4,567,000,000 years ago. Mars' metallic core formed a few million years after that. Previous estimates for how long the surface remained molten ranged from thousands of years to several hundred million years picked by AutumnLotus 11 months ago

The Red Planet was too salty to sustain life for much of its history, according to the latest evidence gathered by rovers on the Martian surface. picked by mahler87 8 months ago

The Phoenix Mars Lander, also called Phoenix, is a robotic spacecraft launched on a space exploration mission to Mars on August 7,2007.
According to recent NASA's news it seems that the $386-million spacecraft is on course and is set for landing on May 25. picked by cristeaiulian 5 months ago