Spectroscopy is good for all kinds of things. Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of hematite -- a water-bearing mineral at the landing site of one of the Mars rovers. (There are several spectrometers on the Mars Phoenix spacecraft as well.)

Here's the Mossbauer Spectrometer (used to identify mineral constituents of rocks) onboard the rovers:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/spacecraft_instru_mossbr.html

This spectrometer -- quite a bit smaller than most -- would fit in the palm of your hand. Most spectrometers are desk- or room-sized.

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