Glaciers on Mars

The ring around the mountain in this NASA photo depicts what is believed to be the edge of a glacier.

Scientific American reports that the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has detected what appear to be water ice glaciers near the surface of the mid-latitudes of Mars. Not only is it surprising to find so much water ice so close to the equator, but researchers are amazed by the massive size of the glaciers and how the ice appears to exist very close to the surface. The November 20 issue of Science details the results of an analysis of two Martian features by the MRO's shallow radar, or SHARAD. These features, which are representative of numerous mountains dotting the landscape, appear to be composed almost entirely of water ice.

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