If you have to compare the martian soil at the Gusev crater to the Earth soil which one would you pick the beach sand or the dry sand?
The fine-grained dust at Gusev crater is very dry on the surface. Some of the measurements that Spirit is just beginning to perform now will help tell is if this martian soil is like beach sand. We are looking for minerals that need water to form, for alteration of mineral grains, and for the presence of salts, all of which are parts of beach sand. We should know more soon! Expert: Janice Bishop SETI Institute P.I. NASA Ames Research Center Question: I heard two theories about why Mars is red. The first theory has to do with our own understanding of what water can do to a metal and the second theory has to do with Mars’ own make up. Do you think that there is a mineral that when combined with the sun oxidises and turns the soil red? Can you explain it? Thank you, Gina, East Windsor, NJ Answer: The planet Mars is red because of the red rusted iron dust particles in its atmosphere. The soil of Mars is red as well. Mars is not red because of scattered light – like on earth. The planet Mar
