Comments on: Scientists narrow the next Mars rover candidate landing sites to 8 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/scientists-narrow-the-next-mars-rover-candidate-landing-sites-to-8/ Mon, 10 Aug 2015 12:26:07 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Robert Clark https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/scientists-narrow-the-next-mars-rover-candidate-landing-sites-to-8/#comment-788376 Mon, 10 Aug 2015 12:26:07 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=35494#comment-788376 The announced possible sites for the Mars 2020 rover are indeed interesting.
However, I think an important site was left out, Noctis Labyrinthus. Since
the Viking missions it has been known that Noctis frequently displays low
lying fogs or clouds. Since this is a low latitude and low altitude site it is
possible these low lying fogs could contact the ground during the times when
the temperatures and pressures are within the range to allow liquid water.

http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/04images/Mars4/Weather/Clouds_Noctis_Viking_01.gif

http://i.imgur.com/lFvLrgQ.jpg

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/assets_c/2013/07/Marineris%20fog-thumb-570×738-127871.jpg

Bob Clark

]]> By: Seattle Steve https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/scientists-narrow-the-next-mars-rover-candidate-landing-sites-to-8/#comment-787665 Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:47:35 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=35494#comment-787665 I think the researchers, and your last paragraph, are going in the right direction. When there is a serious effort at colonizing Mars, there will be plenty of opportunities to inspect possible locations in great detail with robotic and human missions. Granted, the Mars caves are super cool, and irresistibly romantic sites to explore, Lunar caves may be easier to get to, and may give us good experience.

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