Sea of ice revealed on Mars

[Lebenz]

By Toby Sterling
The Associated Press

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Images relayed by a European space probe reveal the existence of a sea of ice close to the equator of Mars, scientists said yesterday at a conference in the Netherlands. The existence of water or ice would significantly increase the chance that microscopic life may also be found on Mars.

The evidence comes from photographs — not yet published — taken last year by the European Space Agency's Mars Express probe currently orbiting the red planet.

Scientists have long theorized there was once water on Mars, and data from NASA's Mars Rovers have recently appeared to confirm it. But most scientists believed the water had evaporated into the atmosphere early in the planet's history.

"The point is that the ice is very recent: It appears to still be there, covered beneath a layer of dust and ash," said John Murray of Britain's Open University.


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