Possible present day habitats for life on Mars (Including potential Mars special regions): Difference between revisions

[[File:Phoenix landing2.jpg|thumb|Artist's impression of the Phoenix Lander settling down on Mars.<br><br>Its measurements of isotope ratios of carbon and oxygen gave evidence for liquid water on the surface now or in the recent geological past.<ref name=phoenixisotope>[http://uanews.org/story/phoenix-mars-lander-finds-surprises-about-planet%E2%80%99s-watery-past Phoenix Mars Lander Finds Surprises About Planet’s Watery Past] University of Arizona news, By Daniel Stolte, University Communications, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory | September 9, 2010</ref>.<br><br>Its observations of possible droplets on its legs suggested new ways that water could be stable temporarily on Mars.<ref name=phoenix_droplets_2009>[https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16620-first-liquid-water-may-have-been-spotted-on-mars.html?full=true#.VRReJ_msV8E First liquid water may have been spotted on Mars], New Scientist, February 2009 by David Shiga</ref> These observations lead many scientists to reassess the present habitability of Mars]]

This is a question of great interest in [[astrobiology]]. Does [[Mars]] in its present state have any potential habitats for native microbes, lichens, or other living organisms<ref>[https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=present+day+Mars+habitability Google scholar search for: present day Mars habitability]</ref>? If so, are these habitats on or near the surface or only deep underground, perhaps next to geological hotspots or in the deep hydrosphere? Objective B of NASA's first Mars Science Goal is to investigate these potential habitats:<ref>Hamilton, V.E., Rafkin, S., Withers, P., Ruff, S., Yingst, R.A., Whitley, R., Center, J.S., Beaty, D.W., Diniega, S., Hays, L. and Zurek, R., [https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/MEPAG%20Goals_Document_2015_v18_FINAL.pdf Mars Science Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities: 2015 Version].

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[[Life on Mars]] covers the more general topic of habitats for life through the entire history of Mars (with a brief summary for present day habitats).