Surprisingly warm weather on Mars

[Hum]

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is enjoying some nice, warm weather on the Red Planet ? and spring hasn't even come to its landing site yet.

Curiosity's onboard weather station, which is called the Remote Environment Monitoring Station (REMS), has measured air temperatures as high as 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) in the afternoon. And temperatures have climbed above freezing during more than half of the Martian days, or sols, since REMS was turned on, scientists said.

These measurements are a bit unexpected, since it's still late winter at Gale Crater, the spot 4.5 degrees south of the Martian equator where Curiosity touched down on Aug. 5.

"That we are seeing temperatures this warm already during the day is a surprise and very interesting," Felipe G?mez, of the Centro de Astrobiolog?a in Madrid, said in a statement.

Curiosity's main goal is to determine if the Gale area is, or ever was, capable of supporting microbial life. Most researchers think present-day Mars is too dry and cold to host life as we know it, but they may have to rethink some of their assumptions if temperatures climb considerably through the spring and summer.

"If this warm trend carries on into summer, we might even be able to foresee temperatures in the 20s [Celsius], and that would be really exciting from a habitability point of view."

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[123456789A]

Global warming, all caused by the rovers. We shouldn't be sending our machines to Mars like that until more environmental studies have been conducted.

[Routerbad]

Martian global warming?

[Arachno 1D]

Some pesky Martian is lighting a bonfire up near the rover

[Hum]

It's the Sun cranking up, folks. ;)

[Growled Member]

It's the Sun cranking up, folks. ;)

I've read that all the planets are experiencing a warm up.

[2xSilverKnight]

I've read that all the planets are experiencing a warm up.

Yes and the medias never talks about it.

Man-made pollution is what people should be concerned about, not ''global warming''

[neoadorable]

^{this is pretty normal. temps in the 20's centigrade have been recorded on Mars, although not in the Martian winter. it's a planet with a climate system, it has warm spells just like cold places on Earth do. and above freezing isn't saying much, really. it's not like it's beach weather. you could put a bathing suit on but you'll only get to enjoy that warm weather for like 30 seconds before the toxic air makes you pass out.}

[SoCalRox]

Any sign of Al Gore?

[DocM]

Meh - he's off worrying about the appearance of seasons on Titan. I'm sure he thinks that's human caused too :whistle:

[Growled Member]

^ I'm sure it was Bush's fault someway or another. :D

[The King of GnG]

Mars is pretty warm, ask John Carter about that (what a coincidence, I'm reading Under the Moons of Mars right now)....

[Raa]

I've read that all the planets are experiencing a warm up.

I'd be interested in reading the source to that. I'm curious about how they've monitored all the planets temperatures in recent times. :)

Still, I won't rule off Mars from my holiday destinations yet. :p

[FightAndLive]

It was on the science channel that crazy Berkley guy said that the sun is causing I think 10% of the global warming.

[ILikeTobacco]

It was on the science channel that crazy Berkley guy said that the sun is causing I think 10% of the global warming.

The history channel already gave the real explanation...

[Hum]

Maybe Curiosity is parked near an active volcano.

[Muhammad Farrukh]

Time to move in :yes:

[rhianntp]

If we don't re-elect obama that planet is in peril... need a new ad for the war on planets that Romney/Ryan are standing for..

[neoadorable]

Mars is warm? why do people think that, because it looks like Gallop, New Mexico? I dare you to stand outside in summer clothes anywhere on Mars, anytime of year. Oh, with an air tank and mask and all, just not protective clothing. Let's see how warm you think it then!

[Hum]

^ You can't argue with the News !

Mars: It's Just Like Hawaii

[Growled Member]

That confirms it all right. :D