An Angry Red Planet:
The life and death of a class M world
A report by:
FComm DL Wey
DCOSR: SFS-SFC
Research conducted in the field of planetary evolution [meaning the study of why certain worlds attain life bearing status while others don't], has recently postulated some interesting theories concerning our solar systems own planet of Mars. Like our own world, it has been suggested that Mars may have [at one time] contained the elements necessary for the existence of life.
Observations collected from orbital satellites, as well as probes sent to canvas the planet's surface, have indicated that its current condition of having a thin, cold, and dry atmosphere were not always so. Various formations on the planets surface have been found to resemble those of other class M worlds [most notably, of course, Earth]. It has been noted that some of the craters on Mars [unlike lunar ones] are eroded in a manner that suggests there may have been surface water.
There is also other evidence suggesting that Mars was once a planet with water on its surface. Some of the 'canals' of the planet actually appear to have been created by the movement of water over a large area. Now, not all of the craters have such erosion patterns, nor 'canals' the characteristics of water flow, giving rise to the belief that the atmosphere of Mars was lost over time.
The data received has shed new light on this possible fate of the planet Mars. It is postulated the scenario went something like this: In the early days of the planet Mars, there were two polar ice caps, containing a vast amount of water. And while there was surface water, evaporation due to the thin nature of the planet's atmosphere was a constant event. Volcanic activity, causing an increase in greenhouse gases, warmed the surface of the planet to a point where the ice caps began to melt. This in turn released more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
However, because these episodes did not last, the atmosphere continued to bleed away into space, leaving only the oxidizing oxygen molecules to coat the Martian landscape.It is estimated that the period in which Mars had been a viable world was more than three hundred million years ago. Currently, there are plans for a further study of the Red planet, in hopes of gathering greater insight into the history of this mysterious world.
Failed Stars:
Why they're found so close to success
A paper by:
RAdm.RM Wey
COSR: SFS-SFC
It was once considered an axiom that planets like the gas giant Jupiter, could only be found [or formed] in a star system at a distance of five A.U.'s or more [an Astronomical Unit, or ninety three million miles \ one hundred fifty million kilometers]. However, observations made of several 'star systems' [including star 51 Pegasi, and Gliese 229] have show the existence of such planets at distances of less than seven million kilometers.
However, it is yet uncertain as to how such systems could be created. And while there are many theories as to the mechanisms which would facilitate their existence, in the same vein, if there had been any class M worlds in orbit at the time, such a gas giant would have either destroyed them outright, or cast them into interstellar space.