What are some of the check-boxes to tick while celebrating Christmas? Cakes, gifts, snow wars, fig/pine/spruce trees are a must. Dressing up in ugly sweaters or as Santa is mandatory as well. And if you’re a “cinephile”, you’ve to watch ‘Die Hard’, ‘Home Alone’ or ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ (yes, they’re all Christmas movies!)
But in the foreseeable, do you want to know what is definitely going up in that list? Ice-skating. Oh and not just ice-skating in a mall. It’s going to be ice-skating on the red planet, Mars!
The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently shared some pictures from Mars and it features the Korolev crater. What’s special about it is that the crater is filled with ice, thereby giving it the appearance of a gigantic ice rink.
A beautiful #winter wonderland… on #Mars! This ice-filled crater was imaged by our Mars Express spacecraft. Korolev crater is 82 kilometres across and found in the northern lowlands of Mars.
More images: https://t.co/48Czjh80Qb pic.twitter.com/5KDQ1PJ0jt— ESA (@esa) December 20, 2018
According to their website, these gorgeous pictures were taken by its very own Mars Express. And considering how this festive season is the satellite’s 15th anniversary, the timing of these pics are very apt.
As for the Korolev crater (named after chief rocket engineer and spacecraft designer Sergei Korolev) itself, it’s 82 kilometres across and found in the northern lowlands of Mars. The crater is ever-icy due to a phenomenon called the ‘cold trap’. Which basically means that there’s a layer of cold air on top of the ice, which prevents it from ever melting.
Since everyone’s in a Christmas-y mood, they couldn’t help but imagine spending this holding season in that crater in Mars. Here are some of the reactions:
— Lucy Hannaford (@LucyHannaford1) December 20, 2018
It's so Amazing. Our ancestors would've never imagined a time were humanity would catch a glimpse of other worlds.
— Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo (@JaneidyEve) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/vinitmasram/status/1075963838720176134
https://twitter.com/samtherium/status/1076009903012012032
Wow, astonishing and incredible. Great location to build my future martian (ice) lake house. #mars #space https://t.co/tgcTVD9rv5
— Peter Dobson (@peterdobson1001) December 21, 2018
Looks like a pic of a degenerate that put the milk before the cereal https://t.co/WB3B4mZmo9
— Dayton (Wheels) (@WheelsFGC) December 21, 2018
I hear the 2020 @NHL #WinterClassic will be held there. I'm hoping it's the @penguins v @DetroitRedWings https://t.co/u41mEfXl7k
— ZomBickel (@mikebickel77) December 21, 2018
#WinterClassic 2119 venue right here. https://t.co/Bu3bOcQaQZ
— Sea Lion Brian (@sealion_brian) December 21, 2018
I'm sure it's bad of me that I looked at this and my immediate thought was 'dessert?' https://t.co/xmicBgGgVB
— MK (@maureenkspeller) December 21, 2018
Ice skating in a huge crater under a red sky is now a dream of mine ~ https://t.co/Swd0OqEsun
— *ambient screaming* (@carrs_xx) December 21, 2018
I love space. A lot. https://t.co/W1C2uzmxuc
— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) December 21, 2018
Maybe @esa should call it the #Mars #PolarExpress spacecraft😆. Amazing!⛷🚂 #ESSrocks! https://t.co/6zSjUYUanF
— Megan Costello (@CostellosCosmos) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/MatthewEllett_/status/1075927522519511045
For the last few years, Elon Musk has been harping on about colonising Mars and living the rest of his life there. So, keep your fingers crossed that he (or his company) achieves that dream in your lifetime, so that spend a Christmas holiday on that one-of-a-kind ice rink. Just look out for deadly martians running around.