8/10/2004: Polygons on Mars

The stupid "face" on Mars was easily explained. Not so easily explained are these polygons, found by the Mars Global Surveyor, and which were featured in a recent Astronomy pic of the Day, which says

They may indicate regions where water ice lies within a few meters of the surface. Similar looking polygons are commonly found in the arctic and Antarctic of Earth, where they typically form from a repetitive cycle of freezing and thawing.

Toll Brothers got to Mars, apparently. Have you picked out your site yet?

In the meantime, both Mars Rovers are seeking good campsites for the next 6 months - for winter. The Southern Hemisphere of Mars will experience temperatures down to -150 degrees and often never get above zero. At least they won't have to worry about being buried in snow drifts.

With so little sun, the Rovers are down to no more than 1.5 hours of work a day and may often do nothing just to spend all day recharging batteries. Maybe they will find the garden of Eden next year. Internal heaters will be necessary just to keep both alive. Good thing we don't send humans there.

The heartbreak of psoriasis. :o

tw wrote:

With so little sun, the Rovers are down to no more than 1.5 hours of work a day

I don't think it has anything to do with sun. I live in LA, we get plenty of sun, and there are more than a few people in my office that give us no more than 1.5 hours of work a day. The rovers are probably just passing the time shopping on the internet (and checking out IOTD, oops).