Massive Cave Found on Mars

mrcgran writes "Space.com is reporting a very deep hole found on Mars: 'The geological oddity measures some 330 feet (100 meters) across and is located on an otherwise bright dusty lava plain to the northeast of Arsia Mons, one of the four giant Tharsis volcanoes on the red planet. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) instrument to draw a bead on the apparent deep hole — a feature that may cause more scientists to ponder about potential subsurface biology on Mars. Because the spot lacks a raised rim or tossed out material called ejecta, researchers have ruled out the pit being an impact crater. No walls or other details can be seen inside the hole, and so any possible walls might be perfectly vertical and extremely dark or — more likely — overhanging.' The original image and its cutout at full resolution can be found in the HiRISE site."

Next up: massive cave found on...

[smartbei]

"A very dark spot on [Uranus] could be an entrance to a deep hole or cavern, according to scientists studying imagery taken by NASA's a...ss Orbiter. The geological oddity measures some 330 feet (100 meters) across... The hole might be the sort of place that could support life or serve as a habitat... Must be deep..."

Uh oh...

[Non-CleverNickName]

Marvin the Martian would be very angry if we found his hidden cave...

Verrrry angry indeed...

already a known and cataloged feature

[rubycodez]

[Time Lapse. They reach a cliff and look over the edge.]

Zapp: Behold: The Great Stone Face of Mars.

Fry: Hm.

Zapp: The only known entrance to the Martian reservation.

Leela: What about the Great Stone Ass of Mars?

Zapp: Well, yeah, but it's way over the other side of the planet.

    -- Futurama, Where the buggalo roam

Re:Purity

[lanswitch]

It reminds me of a certain website...

Geez! They can't tell...

[monkeyboythom]

It's the planet drain hole? That's why they all died off because some knucklehead pulled the plug.

And they call themselves scientists.

Yeah, yeah.

[spungo]

$10 says it's a bug on the lens.

Re:My god!

[kEnder242]

"My dog! It's full of Rats!" - 2001: A Dyslexic Odyssey

shamelessly ripped from someones sig

War of the Worlds

[HTH NE1]

It's the subsurface cannon barrel they used to fire their cylinders to invade Earth in 1898, 1938, and 1953. They may be readying for another attempt! When is the next opposition?

That's No Cave!

[Stanistani]

It's Dick Cheney's soul, placed in a blind trust for the duration of his public service.

Re:Purity

[carld]

Has anyone looked on the opposite side of the planet?

Upon closer inspection, scientists find ...

[Lucas123]

There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a log, there's a log There's a log in the hole in the bottom of Mars. There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars There's a branch, there's a branch There's a branch on the log in the hole in the bottom of Mars.

At last!

[niceone]

At last we have the answer to the burning question: Is there a hole on mars?

Re:Purity

[Anonymous Coward]

That's no cave!

It's a space slug [starwars.com].

I'm confused

[palewook]

Does this mean men are from Venus and women are from Mars?

Re:Next up: massive cave found on...

[gfxguy]

We need to change the name of that planet to stop these stupid jokes. I nominate "Urectum".

Martian Mordor

[Kythe]

I guess that's what happens when you leave the door to Mount Doom unlocked :)

Low Gravity Base Jumping

[TheLazySci-FiAuthor]

To me this is exciting. Imagine, hundreds of years from now this cavern may be visited by our descendants, and they will probably be just as crazy as we are today and thus will do things like this [youtube.com].

Ah, the future. I really want to stick around to see as much of it as possible!

thermal boreholes, anyone?

[The Fun Guy]

Does this make anyone else think of Alpha Centauri [huntnworld.com]? Thermal boreholes give lots of energy, but they raise temperatures in the surrounding 8 sectors - not necessarily a bad thing on Mars.

I don't see any roads, farms, mines or solar collectors, though. You're never going to grow the colony and win the game without farm sectors.

Re:My god!

[glitch_xl]

It could be full of Beagle! Was that Metric or English...

Vacated worm home

[Shabbs]

Clearly it's the vacated home of the Asteroid Worm in Star Wars: Episode V. He couldn't afford the rent anymore.

Cheers.

Doh

[buswolley]

Stop Dreaming Homer. Its Not A Donut.

Re:I don't buy it.

[JasonKChapman]

I'm sure they'll be taking more as soon as they get an opportunity.

That's the Spirit!

Re:Purity

[3vi1]

Oddly enough, this hole is on exactly the opposite side as the "face".

One song deserves another

[jd]

There's a hole in my planet, dear NASA, dear NASA,
There's a hole in my planet, dear NASA, a hole.

Then fill it, dear Martian, dear Martian,
Then fill it, dear Martion, fill it.

With what shall I fill it, dear NASA, dear NASA,
With what shall I fill it, dear NASA, with what?

With crashed space probes, dear Martian, dear Martian,
With crashed space probes, dear Martian, space probes.

Martian Censorship

[MutualDisdain]

Clearly this is Martian Censorship. The Martians are preventing the disclosure of sensitive locations so that they aren't published on Google Mars.

Re:Cenote?

[gbobeck]

Maybe it is an alien portal and the hollow earth people got it right but for the wrong planet.

Actually, its where all the lost right socks and car keys in the galaxy go.

Graphic Caption From TFA:

[Aqua_boy17]

This feature on Mars is a candidate cavern entrance.

Quick show of hands: How many of us would like to see most (or all) of the Presidential candidates actually use that entrance?

Re:Purity

[dubbreak]

Has anyone looked on the opposite side of the planet?

Yeah, but all the found was a small hill. They named it Mons Pubis.

Re:Yeah, yeah.

[Anonymous Coward]

I, for one, welcome our giant circle shaped bug overlords.

Re:Purity

[spiyda]

Are you thinking what I'm thinking...?

a very small black hole passed this way, and ate all the atmosphere as it went !

or this was the site of the Martian search for the Higgs boson ... ooh er :-(