Comments on: Vast ocean discovered on Mars https://www.habitablezone.com/2024/08/15/vast-ocean-discovered-on-mars/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BuckGalaxy https://www.habitablezone.com/2024/08/15/vast-ocean-discovered-on-mars/#comment-53435 BuckGalaxy Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:08:04 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=104243#comment-53435 A rock that size would certainly transform Mars' surface and likely release a very large amount of its subterrainian water. After a couple years the dust would settle and a new planet would emerge. One much friendlier to life earth life with oceans, lakes, rivers and likely even rainfall. Pushing Diemos toward the surface of Mars wouldn't be too difficult I would think. Consider the way DART moved Dimorphos. Upscale that with a few nukes and presto. A subtler way might to to place some thrusters on the far side of Diemos and push it towards Mars. Unfortunately, I don't see how any government could pull it off with all the scientists and planetary environmentalists (they're coming) who would make a huge stink about it. Even corporations would be hard pressed given the costs and questionable ROI of such an undertaking. The only chance of such an idea happening would be if some evil trillionaire genius did it secretly. <img src="https://www.habitablezone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/456330845_10160985973508411_9213535822008057099_n-e1724195420501.jpg" alt="" /> A rock that size would certainly transform Mars’ surface and likely release a very large amount of its subterrainian water. After a couple years the dust would settle and a new planet would emerge. One much friendlier to life earth life with oceans, lakes, rivers and likely even rainfall.

Pushing Diemos toward the surface of Mars wouldn’t be too difficult I would think. Consider the way DART moved Dimorphos. Upscale that with a few nukes and presto. A subtler way might to to place some thrusters on the far side of Diemos and push it towards Mars.

Unfortunately, I don’t see how any government could pull it off with all the scientists and planetary environmentalists (they’re coming) who would make a huge stink about it. Even corporations would be hard pressed given the costs and questionable ROI of such an undertaking.

The only chance of such an idea happening would be if some evil trillionaire genius did it secretly.

]]> By: BuckGalaxy https://www.habitablezone.com/2024/08/15/vast-ocean-discovered-on-mars/#comment-53413 BuckGalaxy Thu, 15 Aug 2024 20:43:01 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=104243#comment-53413 I was actually wondering, after reading about all the water locked deep under the surface of Mars, if a large asteroid impact might release some of that water on the surface. In effect, creating oceans and lakes on the surface. It would have to be a pretty big rock given the 10 mile, deep depth of the water. Deorbiting Diemos or Phobos might do the trick for a big step forward in terraforming. I was actually wondering, after reading about all the water locked deep under the surface of Mars, if a large asteroid impact might release some of that water on the surface. In effect, creating oceans and lakes on the surface. It would have to be a pretty big rock given the 10 mile, deep depth of the water. Deorbiting Diemos or Phobos might do the trick for a big step forward in terraforming.

]]> By: RobVG https://www.habitablezone.com/2024/08/15/vast-ocean-discovered-on-mars/#comment-53409 RobVG Thu, 15 Aug 2024 20:14:01 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=104243#comment-53409 Look at the Earth analog: -96.5% of water is on the surface in the form of oceans. -Less than 1% is groundwater. Mars got its bell rung and the oceans circled the drain. Look at the Earth analog:
-96.5% of water is on the surface in the form of oceans.
-Less than 1% is groundwater.

Mars got its bell rung and the oceans circled the drain.

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