ANd now, a weather report...from the Arctic region of northern Mars:

"Researchers also released the first weather report from the landing site, provided by a Canadian meteorology station mounted on the Lander's mast. Temperatures ranged from a low of -80° Celsius in the early morning to high of -30° C in the afternoon. That's warmer than it will be come August, when the sun sets below the landing site at the planet's arctic circle.

The average pressure was 8.55 millibars, less than 1 percent the pressure at sea level on Earth. The wind is blowing from the northeast at about 20 kilometers per hour with little dust obliterating the view. Future reports will include measurements of humidity and visibility as more weather instruments are switched on."

---

For some reason I am imagining a dusky summer evening in, say, Indiana or Missouri, with a few folks--Jared and his wife Mae, and their son Jared, Junior who is called "Bud" -- sitting out in rockers or porch swings enjoying the cool after dinner and recognizing the planet Mars by its reddish glint, hanging over the horizon among the distant stars. It is late June, say, in the year 1938. Mae is knitting, and speaks in a sort of dreamy tone.

"I wonder what the weather is like on Mars, Jared."

"Dang foolish idea, Maw. How's anyone ever gonna know thet?"

"But Dad!! Someday, we could go to Mars, maybe by a rocket or somethin'. Then we'd know!!!"

"You best tend to your books, sprat, an' git them dang tomfool idees outta yer head, iffen you want to 'mount to anything in this world. Weather reports from Mars? Ree-dicklous!! I cain't even get a straight answer from the damn raddio about weather right here in Teller County!!!"

"Awww, pa. But could happen....someday!!"

"An' hell could frizz over, too, young man. Ain't worth bettin' on, though!! You keep a sensible head on your shoulders, now, an' leave all that daydreamin' to others who don't mind wastin' their time..."

"Awww. Kin I have some more lemonade?"

(Camera pans the sky and zeros in on the red-glinting dot of far-off Mars, hanging over the horizon....).