Mars 'Avalanche' Captured By Nasa's HiRISE Camera (PICTURE)

Mars Avalanche

First Posted: 9/02/2012 10:57 Updated: 9/02/2012 11:44

It's avalanche season...on Mars, and this latest out-of-this-world photograph reveals 'snow' landslides on the Red Planet.

As the snap shows, Martian skiers might have some problems negotiating the steep slopes photographed by NASA's HiRISE camera.

The camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the avalanche taking place on a cliff in the Mars polar region.

As this photograph shows, clouds of 'snow' are clearly visible as a large avalanche thunders down the mountainside.

The HiRISE high resolution camera took the amazing photograph at 85 degrees north on the planet. The team say the occurrence of avalanches is revealed by the accompanying clouds of fine material that continue to settle out of the air.

The avalanches are a result of carbon-dioxide frost that clings to the slopes in the darkness of winter, which then loosens up and falls when hit by sunlight.

These events happen mostly in the middle of spring, roughly equivalent to April to early May on Earth. And it seems this is a regular spring process at Mars’ north pole that may be expected every year.

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It's avalanche season...on Mars, and this latest out-of-this-world photograph reveals 'snow' landslides on the Red Planet. As the snap shows, Martian skiers might have some problems negotiating th...
It's avalanche season...on Mars, and this latest out-of-this-world photograph reveals 'snow' landslides on the Red Planet. As the snap shows, Martian skiers might have some problems negotiating th...
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12:13 PM on 02/10/2012
Aside Benne841 the rest of you are clearly mental, I gave up after the first 20 or so posts, you need psychiatric help! Your reasoning is bizarre...
07:03 AM on 02/10/2012
This is obviously the result of global warming...
06:11 AM on 02/10/2012
According to ancient history, Mars is the planet of war. Let us hope the tremers and avalanches are not a prelude to an conflict on earth.
04:07 AM on 02/10/2012
ITS LIKE INDIA,S SNOW FALL "CARBON DIEOXSIDE"PROBABLY 9.9 MARS QUAKE.OMG!!!
04:04 AM on 02/10/2012
so space is a waste of money so i guess the world is flat and columbus will never find america ?
02:55 AM on 02/10/2012
Look carefully into this picture and you will see perhaps a shadowy image of our future, painted upon the canvas of finite time. Are we seeing the past few minutes or days on mars, streaming through space or are we seeing the end of the distant path we now travel? Is it not a vision of caution reflected in the ever present mirror of now? Dare we look at it? Or, is it easier to merely face the broken blackness ahead unaware?
05:58 AM on 02/10/2012
I did look carefully and I saw perhaps Northern Nevada. The space program is a waste of money.
06:16 AM on 02/10/2012
Northern Nevada has proven to be a treasure trove of gold and silver and other metal and mineral wealth. The moon (and Mars) is also an abundant untapped treasure trove of natural resources: helium 3, "Rare Earth" elements are abundant on the moon, elements necessary to the electronic industry ( which China has almost a complete monopoly on). Now that America is finally running out of many natural resources, and very little deposits of the elements we need to maintain our highly technological civilization, we are need to set up huge mineing operations on the moon. That will require eventual colonization. China intends to do this. If we do not, China will replace the United States as the most powerfull nation on Earth. The nation that controls Space, controls the Earth.
01:06 AM on 02/11/2012
Just give me the cold light of a blood moon and I will be happy.
02:10 AM on 02/10/2012
WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!!!!!!!!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Marine Staff Sergeant
Combat Disabled For My Country....
05:04 AM on 02/10/2012
Since when is a $400, 000, 000 picture a waste of money?
06:18 AM on 02/10/2012
So you want China to have it? Then so be it. I'm sure they will sell us the fruits of their space investments at fair and reasonable prices.
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se72748
01:05 AM on 02/10/2012
This is great news for ski resorts on mars.Now in twenty years, when Newt has shuttle service to mars, we will have a reason to go..Mars will be the 52nd state after ,the moon
12:57 AM on 02/10/2012
OMG, mars has global warming too
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ruckas356
Evil Thoughts Give Way To Worst Intentions
12:51 AM on 02/10/2012
but what caused it? martian skiers???
06:21 AM on 02/10/2012
Mars avalanches are caused by the same forces that cause avalanches on Earth. Mostly spring melt. On Earth when snow begins to melt, it becomes unstable. Avalanches happen.
12:48 AM on 02/10/2012
They trying to go to mars butt forgeting about our word.So many smart people and our word is goin to die.Wee are destroing our word polutting our waters and nobady cares people throw garbige erywere in front of people and no body saids nothing.know they doing it in space what the hec is rong with humans.The gov. makes some gagets and people falls for it well excuse me for my writing im just 10 yrs old people have a good life distroing the word for youre kids.
04:21 AM on 02/10/2012
turn your spell check on.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nepatriots1941
12:03 AM on 02/10/2012
Ahhhh.....It's 02/09/2012.......Ok...I'm much better.....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
nepatriots1941
11:59 PM on 02/09/2012
A little confused..."first posted" 09/02/2012.....???...Amazing photo though....!!
12:22 AM on 02/10/2012
Most of the rest of the world abbreviates dates Day/Month/Year.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Octagonalsign
No, YOUR micro-bio is empty...
10:59 PM on 02/09/2012
More proof that fracking causes quakes.....stop the drilling on Mars!!
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cottere5
wienie dog daddy
06:31 AM on 02/10/2012
I agree, Earth first! We can drill Mars later.
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buminthesun421
As a matter of fact, I AM a wise-ass...
10:56 PM on 02/09/2012
Oh no.... Global warming on Mars... which politician is going to be blamed for that..??
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11:01 PM on 02/09/2012
I blame Bush.
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nepatriots1941
11:59 PM on 02/09/2012
I blame Mars "government"....
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hpsuksnads
I don't need no stinking micro-bio
04:03 AM on 02/10/2012
LIBERALS! Can't live with them, can't throw 'em off a cliff.