There are few things more beautiful to me than rocks and landscapes. I am not sure why. It may have something to do with my appreciation for fractal shapes and reoccurring patterns across multiple scales. To truly appreciate the picture in this story, you must have 3-D glasses. This picture is of the Claritas Fossae tectonic region on Mars, southeast of the Tharsis volcano group (of which the highest volcano in the known solar system, Olympus Mons, is a member). The picture was taken by ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft. There are several craters and great walls that appear to have material from erosion slumping down the sides, or so it seems to this geology novice. I’m sure there is a better explanation somewhere. I look forward to someday revisting this and other images on a huge wallscreen, and I can’t wait to see them through the eyes of a trained planetary scientist.

First there was evidence of fossil bacteria in a Martian rock found in Antarctica. Next came confirmation of liquid water on the surface of Mars in the distant past. Now three separate scientific teams have discovered methane in the Martian atmosphere. On Earth, two primary sources produce methane: volcanoes and life.

So, what is the source of that methane on Mars? First, scientists needs to confirm that the methane actually exists there and is not an error in their research. Next, differences in methane concentration need to be mapped and correlated with possible Martian sources. Finally, robots and/or humans need to explore the potential sources up close. I volunteer.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell - “Eyeing ‘Eagle Crater’“

How beautiful the view is now…how beautiful it must have been then. NASA announced yesterday evidence from its Opportunity Rover of a salty sea in the distant past. The evidence is quite compelling. Even though the current rovers are not best equipped to look for signs of ancient and current life, scientists admitted that if they were looking for fossils, Eagle Crater would be a great place to start.

Opportunity is expected to move on to a much larger crater that may hold even more data to help determine when the ancient sea existed, how large it was, and how long it lasted. The Mars Exploration Rover Mission site is spectacular, and according to NASA it has received more than 9 billion hits to date since the mission began.

Only days ago NASA decided to give up on their attempts to contact the Mars Polar Lander, apparently lost during it approach last month. Now comes word that the Mars Polar Lander may have tried to contact Earth on a couple separate occasions. The feeble signal was only just detected during a new analysis. On Tuesday a new message was sent to Mars in hopes of contacting the lost probe. We should know by next week. Space.com has the scoop.