Beam Us up, Scotty! It’s been an eventful few days in the Milky Way, what with the supermoon lunar eclipse on Sunday, Sept. 27, and now NASA’s big #MarsAnnouncement on Monday, Sept. 28. After teasing a “major science finding” on Twitter this week, the space agency revealed “the strongest evidence yet” that liquid water flows on present-day Mars.
The discovery — from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter — suggests “more habitable conditions on the near surface of Mars than previously thought,” researcher Mary Beth Wilhelm told CNN.
In simpler terms? “We think liquid water is essential for life (at least as we know it),” said Rich Zurek, chief scientist of NASA’s Mars Program Office, in a Reddit AMA after the announcement. “That does not mean that life is there; but, it’s a good place to look.”
Zurek also confirmed in the AMA that NASA is “looking into the possibility of sending humans to the vicinity of Mars in the early 2030s.” He added, “In this scenario, the earliest humans to the surface would be in the late 2030s.”
Not surprisingly, Twitter had a field day with NASA’s big reveal. Check out the best and funniest reactions to the #MarsAnnouncement below!
How long will it be before Whole Foods starts selling artisanal, mineral-infused Mars water for $50,000 a bottle? #MarsAnnouncement
— Joe Nelson (@joe___nelson) September 28, 2015
Mars was so jealous of the Moon that it pissed itself to get attention. #MarsAnnouncement
— Will Noonan (@willnoonan) September 28, 2015
“You think you’re better than me cause you got water?” -California to Mars #MarsAnnouncement
— Adam Rose (@RealAdamRose) September 28, 2015
“Oh great… now Mars even has more water than Los Angeles.” http://t.co/dtqqWwavp7 #MarsAnnouncement
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 28, 2015
#MarsAnnouncement of flowing water could just be NASA’s way of mocking California.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) September 28, 2015
Water found … now if only they could find this guy. #MarsAnnouncement pic.twitter.com/MukF2SCXVY
— Katie Linendoll (@KatieLinendoll) September 28, 2015
Don’t drink too much of that Mars water. The nearest bathroom is 140 million miles away. #MarsAnnouncement
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) September 28, 2015
The good news is that there is water on Mars. The bad news is that Nestle already has bottling rights to it. #MarsAnnouncement
— Crutnacker (@Crutnacker) September 28, 2015
There was water on Mars but Marco Rubio drank it all already, sorry guys #MarsAnnouncement
— Caroline McCarthy (@caro) September 28, 2015
#MarsAnnouncement: Matt Damon is still on Mars. #TheMartian
— Joe ‘Monk’ Pardavila (@joepardavila) September 28, 2015
Water has been discovered on Mars. A greater discovery would be intelligent life on Earth. #MarsAnnouncement
— Ken Rulez (@rulezken) September 28, 2015
So there is water on Mars. I’d be more impressed if there was also a beach with a spa and tiki bar. #MarsAnnouncement
— Jennifer Wood (@jennynora81) September 28, 2015
Dear #MarvintheMartian, expect a visit soon. Yours truly, nosy humans. ???? #MarsAnnouncement
— Jo (@NerdyJolene) September 28, 2015
If only Matt Damon knew there was water on Mars. #MarsAnnouncement #TheMartian
— Clayton d’Arnault (@cjdarnault) September 28, 2015
Kind of disapointed the #MarsAnnouncement is about water. Thought it was a confirmation that men were from Mars and Women were from Venus.
— Quickwitted&Quirky (@quicknquirky) September 28, 2015
As it turns out, the discovery of flowing water on Mars is just an elaborate promotion for a Matt Damon movie. #MarsAnnouncement
— Dan Schenker (@_danschenker) September 28, 2015