"This offered the tantalizing possibility that life might yet exist on the surface of Mars in these oases."
Is this a joke?
On slopes of Mount Olympos!? Oases? Tantalizing ... possibility? The whole Tharsis bulge (on which Mount Olympos is standing) is the most dangerous and inhospitable part of Mars. And how in the holy hell would there be any water that high?
There is water on Mars. On the surface. You can see it from space. But its in Vastitas Borealis and the North polar cap. You may even call some of those locations "oases". But on Tharsis?
Dear Ars space journalists... the least you can do before you write about Mars is to look at its Topographical map.
https://explore-mars.esri.com/
Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter data is free and available. Lower right corner. Click it.
Is this a joke?
On slopes of Mount Olympos!? Oases? Tantalizing ... possibility? The whole Tharsis bulge (on which Mount Olympos is standing) is the most dangerous and inhospitable part of Mars. And how in the holy hell would there be any water that high?
There is water on Mars. On the surface. You can see it from space. But its in Vastitas Borealis and the North polar cap. You may even call some of those locations "oases". But on Tharsis?
Dear Ars space journalists... the least you can do before you write about Mars is to look at its Topographical map.
https://explore-mars.esri.com/
Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter data is free and available. Lower right corner. Click it.
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