When the Phoenix Mars Lander was in its final descent to the surface, the exhaust from its rocket engines blew away some nearby dirt, exposing what seemed to be a layer of ice that was beneath the surface before the landing.
Using cameras on Phoenix, scientists have kept watch on the area immediately around the Lander, and they have documented changes. The exposed ice layer, for example, was smooth on its surface at first, but now the surface is rough, cracks may be developing, and pebbles are where none were before. Scientists cannot yet explain exactly what is happening.
This is the first time humans have been able to watch change occurring on another world in something close to real time. Cool stuff.
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