Scientists reported Monday that NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft discovered evidence of past water at its Martian landing and that the craft documented, for the first time, falling snow on this planet.

‘Soil experiments revealed the presence of two minerals known to be formed in liquid water. Scientists identified the minerals as calcium carbonate, found in limestone and chalk, and sheet silicate,’ CNN explained Tuesday.

Phoenix’s laser also spotted snow falling from clouds two miles up. The snow fell, but disappeared before it reached the surface of Mars.

The aircraft landed on Mars in May of this year for a three-month exploration. One of its most significant findings thus far has been the presence of ice on this planet scientists believe to be most able of bringing forth life (or having brought forth life) from all the planets in our galaxy.

“Is this a habitable zone on Mars? I think we’re approaching that hypothesis,” said chief scientist Peter Smith of the University of Arizona. “We understand, though, that Mars has many surprises for us and we have not finished our investigation.”

NASA explained at its website that ‘spacecraft soil experiments also have provided evidence of past interaction between minerals and liquid water, processes that occur on Earth.’

“Nothing like this view has ever been seen on Mars,” said Jim Whiteway, of York University, Toronto, lead scientist for the Canadian-supplied Meteorological Station on Phoenix. “We’ll be looking for signs that the snow may even reach the ground.”

“We have found carbonate,” said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, lead scientist for the TEGA. “This points toward episodes of interaction with water in the past.”

Both TEGA, and the microscopy part of MECA, have turned up hints of a clay-like substance. “We are seeing smooth-surfaced, platy particles with the atomic-force microscope, not inconsistent with the appearance of clay particles,” said Michael Hecht, MECA lead scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Sadly, Phoenix mission will come to an end soon. “For nearly three months after landing, the sun never went below the horizon at our landing site,” said Barry Goldstein, JPL Phoenix project manager. “Now it is gone for more than four hours each night, and the output from our solar panels is dropping each week. Before the end of October, there won’t be enough energy to keep using the robotic arm.”