We could not get a White Christmas however our Martian buddies will as gorgeous snowscape revealed
Scientists have revealed images of Mars that show it will be experiencing a beautiful white Christmas this year – hopefully we will be as lucky here on Earth
Many people around the world have high hopes for a white Christmas this year. However, scientists revealed images showing that our Martian neighbour will be having very beautiful and icy white Christmas this year – hopefully we will be as fortunate.
Images taken on the high resolution stereo camera on Mars Express show beautiful landscapes and patterns in the planet’s southern hemisphere in an area of the planet titled, Australe Scopuli.
These images were taken not far from the terrain previously explored on the planet by the European Space agency in October.
In the images, swirls of carbon dioxide ice and dust layers wrap around the ground to turn the surface of the red planet to a beautiful white.
The contrasting white and dark layers expose the faces of both hills and valleys as they trace out the seasonal polar layer deposits that are characteristic of the region.
The white landscapes are reminiscent of the terrestrial ski resorts mixed with smooth and steep slopes and tight bends.
A closer look at the images reveals numerous dark patches where ice has been sublimated away – turned directly from solid ice to water vapour – from the sun’s rays on the planet.
In a post by the European Space Agency scientists said: “We may well have missed our chance to make one last ‘Frosty the Snowman’, but it’s still a wonderful time of the year!”
Despite resembling a ski resort the temperatures from Australe Scopuli, Mars, drop to a bone chilling -125C far too cold a sleigh ride through the “snow scape”.
Scientists currently predict that a one way trip to Mars, with current technology, would take a grand total of about nine months of travel time.
Due to the position between the planets you would have to wait an extra three months before taking another nine month trip back to earth, so Christmas at a Martian ski resort should not be on anyone’s bucket list anytime soon.
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