California 7th-Graders Uncover Martian Cave

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A 7th-Grade class from California's Evergreen Middle School made an exciting discovery last week - A hitherto unnoticed cave on Mars, that experts believe may be as big as, 620X520ft. wide and 380ft. deep.

The 16 astute students were participating in the Mars Student Imaging Program (MSIP), a collaboration between NASA and the University of Arizona, which allows students ranging from 5th grade through college sophomore, to be involved in authentic Mars research.

Once classrooms are accepted into the program, they can participate in person or remotely, via on-line seminars. They can also pose questions to experts and request close-up pictures of the area of the planet they wish to research.

The Evergreen class project was to investigate the Red Planet's lava tubes (natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of the earth) - A feature Mars has in common with Earth.

While they found plenty in the image they received from MSIP, they also spotted a Martian Skylight - a hole in the roof of a cave - Something that NASA scientists had missed. The students have now requested a closer image of the hole so that they can peek and see what's inside - some Martians maybe?

While the MSIP was set up to educate kids, NASA scientists admit that in this case, the Cottonwood, CA students have outsmarted them - Pretty Awesome!

Sources:huffingtonpost.com, space.com, NASA.gov

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70 Comments
  • Keiraabout 13 years
    that is cool dude what if they found something like cool dude cool
    • bbguns rokabout 13 years
      this is beast
      • jyulicas over 13 years
        not a martian, ALIEN!!!
        • sarahover 13 years
          how cool it would be soo cool if they found martians
          • jyulicasover 13 years
            ahh!!!! everyone leave the planet before they see us!!!
            • jyulicasover 13 years
              AAhhh!!!!!! they found us
              • 112425over 13 years
                CURSE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                • YO YO YO!!!!over 13 years
                  THTS SO BEAST!
                  • niki12over 13 years
                    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
                    • a kidover 13 years
                      i wish i can go there

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