TYWKIWDBI has followed with some interest the progress of the Phoenix Mars lander and the Mars Rover. (Ten previous blog entries here)
Today's report from NASA and the JPL is perhaps the most exciting yet. The photo above shows what appears to be water droplets on one leg of the lander. That they are liquid rather than particulate is implied by the fact that they get larger with time (and some droplets appear to coalesce). One mechanism that would allow that to happen is if the droplets are highly salty, and thus hygroscopic.
The suggestion is that close enough to the surface to be released by the lander's thrusters and impact are perchlorates or other salts that could convert into liquid.
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