New Mars Forums

Shaun Barrett

Member

From: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2001-12-28

Posts: 2,843

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Hmmm. I have to admit, at first glance Bonneville looks less than inspiring but the trained geologists may be seeing more than I can see.
    Those hills, which will be the next target when investigations at Bonneville are completed, certainly look much closer now. And who knows what wonders we might find there!
                                       

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The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it Jumping Up and Down.   - Rita Rudner

Arccos

Member

From: Czechia

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 46

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

The crater IS interesting, but I have always been looking forward to the hills.

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My knowledge of the English language is poor - but still I'm here .

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

*Shaun and Arccos:  I had the very same sentiment, especially about those distant hills.  My eyes were always drawn back to that light silhouette.

Isn't it so typical of the wonderful human desire for exploration, to always want to find out what's just beyond the next distant hill? 

--Cindy

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

Arccos

Member

From: Czechia

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 46

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Anyway, the new position of Spirit calls for a new fullres panorama.

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My knowledge of the English language is poor - but still I'm here .

GraemeSkinner

Member

From: Eden Hall, Cumbria

Registered: 2004-02-20

Posts: 563

Website

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Bonneville panorama [http://images.spaceref.com/news/2004/03 … le.lrg.jpg]Bonneville

Here's three area's I think they should have a look at if they get chance...

Dead Lizard?

Sand Fish?

Okay, the first two might just have been an overactive imagination, but I'd like them to take a better picture of the dark patch on the crater floor (just to the left of the dark rocky outcrop in the foreground). My first impression when I looked at it was that it looked like a small impact crater, but now it looks as if its a ripple in the sand (depends which screen I'm surfing from - impact crater on laptop / sand ripple on desktop!).
What I do like about the full image is the arrangement of smaller rocks in the foreground, it certainly shows the terrain well - can you imagine walking around inside a suite trying to pick your way amongst them, could be slow going.

Graeme
- Yes there is a sand fish on the second image, you just have to look long enough 

---

There was a young lady named Bright.
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day
in a relative way
And returned on the previous night.
--Arthur Buller--

dickbill

Member

Registered: 2002-09-28

Posts: 749

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

New Opportunity microscopic imager pictures show budding-like concretions. Very similar to budding yeast.

[http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 37M2M1.JPG]http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery....2M1.JPG

what's up in the scientific results and theories (serious only)? I have been in Miami for the last days and far away of Mars stuff, in complete ignorance of what matters in that troubled world.

GraemeSkinner

Member

From: Eden Hall, Cumbria

Registered: 2004-02-20

Posts: 563

Website

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

The index page shows 'dickbill' as having made the last post to this thread on 11th March at 10.10, but its not showing amongst the posts - any ideas where its gone?

AMENDMENT - Now its there!

---

There was a young lady named Bright.
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day
in a relative way
And returned on the previous night.
--Arthur Buller--

Stu

Member

From: Kendal, Cumbria, England

Registered: 2001-09-04

Posts: 318

Website

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Gorgeous Bonneville panorama here...

[http://mer.rlproject.com/index.php?act= … ost&id=416]http://mer.rlproject.com/index.php?act= … ost&id=416

The crater interior looks a little bland at first glance, but look at all that luvverly ejecta lying around... bet the geologists are jumping on the spot! 

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Stuart Atkinson

Skywatching Blog: [url]http://journals.aol.com/stuartatk/Cumbrian-Sky[/url]

Astronomical poetry, including mars rover poems: [url]http://journals.aol.com/stuartatk/TheVerse[/url]

dickbill

Member

Registered: 2002-09-28

Posts: 749

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

The crater interior looks a little bland at first glance, but look at all that luvverly ejecta lying around... bet the geologists are jumping on the spot! 

the rover is going to have a hard time to drive through this chaotic terrain. Big sharp stones everywhere.

But I have two questions:

1) Is the composition of the non shiny spherules versus shiny spherules known ?

2) I have this thought recently : when the rat is grinding, that produces certainly a lot of heat, possibly enough to melt ice and some salts. Is there any comments about this ?

GraemeSkinner

Member

From: Eden Hall, Cumbria

Registered: 2004-02-20

Posts: 563

Website

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Does anyone know if the white mark on the second segment of the Bonneville panorama (far side of crater) is pissing pixels or just a harsh glare of reflected light.

---

There was a young lady named Bright.
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day
in a relative way
And returned on the previous night.
--Arthur Buller--

Rxke

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2003-11-03

Posts: 3,669

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Looks like reflection... When i was at school i saw a pic that showed it clearly, but here at home i'm unable to find it back, arghl.

It's the side of the big rock next to the white spot you're seeing...

dickbill

Member

Registered: 2002-09-28

Posts: 749

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Does anyone know if the white mark on the second segment of the Bonneville panorama (far side of crater) is pissing pixels or just a harsh glare of reflected light.

I have noticed it too. If it's natural, then it must be a very reflective material, like metallic or alternatively very white, like a pure patch of white salt.

All this lack of public interesting information about the pictures released and other chemical analysis is annoying. I know that the scientist are carefull, but here for example, they would just have to say "the white spot are missing pixels" or "we don't know". No big deal but instead of that we are flooded we much less interesting news : Today Spirit woke up at the sound of "La Marseillaise"....riiiinnnnnng ( Dubya calling)...." Oh I know it is a mistake Mr President, but it was that or waking up Spirit with a CD of Sex Pistols, that's all we have right now"

synthomus

Member

From: mitropa

Registered: 2004-03-11

Posts: 6

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Definitely no missing pixels at the white spot as it appears on several sol 66 front hazcam and navigation cam raw images:

[http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/galler … 43L0M1.JPG]http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery....0M1.JPG
[http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/galler … 43R0M1.JPG]http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery....0M1.JPG
[http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/galler … 10L0M1.JPG]http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery....0M1.JPG
[http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/galler … 10R0M1.JPG]http://origin.mars5.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery....0M1.JPG

Could be a part of the landing assembly like the parachute or something. If natural it must be really very reflective!   

Does anybody know if there was a press release image showing where Spirit's parachutes and heat shield fell?

atomoid

Member

From: Santa Cruz, CA

Registered: 2004-02-13

Posts: 252

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Does anyone know if the white mark on the second segment of the Bonneville panorama (far side of crater) is pissing pixels or just a harsh glare of reflected light.

I've been waiting for the moment we spy the heatshield wreckage... yes, the bright spot is the reflection or image oversaturation of the EDL package's heatshield.

Remember, from [http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/rover-i … ed_640.jpg]looking at the MGS image, from [http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/rover-i … 23-04.html]the 1/23 press release, the heatshield looked like it had struck the north rim of Bonneville pretty hard.

From looking at [http://mer.rlproject.com/index.php?act= … ost&id=416]today's panorama, it should be in the same place as the reflection we see, since the rover is travelling in the right direction to put it at this proximity in the view and the other details in teh crater floor match up, so thats gotta be it! yeee-haa!
I made a [http://www.freewebs.com/atomoid/Bonneville3D.jpg]"quick & dirty" 3D anaglyph  of it to give a sense of perspective. sorry for the slow server (its free).

I hope they dont delay in going over and checking out the dammage to see if it gouged a big hole for us to investigate... Nice view of Bonneville, but im so bummed theres no bedrock showing, this is a dull run-of-the-mill crater indeed, at least it will be easy to drive around inside it. it must have been created before the Gusev sediments were laid down since its pretty well blanketed. spend a couple weeks here then head for the hills!

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"I think it would be a good idea". - [url=http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mahatma_Gandhi/]Mahatma Gandhi[/url], when asked what he thought of Western civilization.

Rxke

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2003-11-03

Posts: 3,669

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

So that 'rock' is a part of the heatshield... Cool.
Is i tmy impression or is there a pretty serious 'blastzone' around the object? With a bit of luck there'd be some good heatshield 'diggings' might be interesting...
The crater itself... Hmmm... I guess they won't stay there very long. Of course, these are lo-res pics, we ain't seen nothing yet.

(And aren't we becoming a bit blas?? If that was the first panorama of Spirit, we'd have burst several veins out of enthousiasm, now it 'oh, nuttin' to see, move along'

brthrjon

InActive

From: Jacksonville, Fl

Registered: 2004-01-24

Posts: 9

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Guys don't miss the details starting to show themselves on the hills.  Are those corn circles?

Yang Liwei Rocket

Member

Registered: 2004-03-03

Posts: 993

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Wow, those are funny little shapes, I wonder what made them, erosions, liquids or wind?

reminds me of Kirk Tv show, with those little globe balls that kept breeding, Troubles and Tribbles was it?

[http://www.lyle.org/mars/imagery/1M1322 … 1.JPG.html]http://www.lyle.org/mars/imagery/1M1322 … 1.JPG.html
[http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit … 83L6M1.JPG]http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars....6M1.JPG
[http://www.hazyhills.com/mars3d/opportu … 0212b.html]http://www.hazyhills.com/mars3d/opportu … 0212b.html
[http://members.wap.org/kevin.parker/ima … lleRim.jpg]http://members.wap.org/kevin.parker/ima … lleRim.jpg
[http://www.copperas.com/astro/osurface.jpg]http://www.copperas.com/astro/osurface.jpg

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'first steps are not for cheap, think about it...
did China build a great Wall in a day ?' ( Y L R newmars forum member )

atomoid

Member

From: Santa Cruz, CA

Registered: 2004-02-13

Posts: 252

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Guys don't miss the details starting to show themselves on the hills.  Are those corn circles?

Dont know what "corn circles" should be. are you refereing to [http://www.lyle.org/mars/imagery/2N1322 … 1.JPG.html]images such as these? still not much more detail yet...

---

"I think it would be a good idea". - [url=http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mahatma_Gandhi/]Mahatma Gandhi[/url], when asked what he thought of Western civilization.

Paisley

Banned

From: Adelaide, Australia

Registered: 2004-02-10

Posts: 1

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Hey all,

Post #1 after many months of lurking.

I agree that Bonneville looks a little bland, but do I see a little outcropping of bedrock somewhat to the left (south) of the heatshield on the big pan and about halfway down the slope?  Could be just random boulders I guess, but it looks a bit like tilted bedding.  Not sure if Spirit could reach this, the slope looks pretty steep.  Having said that, ingress looks pretty easy down the slope on the right (east side) of the crater.

And its nice to get a bit of height too, the hills look lovely.  Any idea of how much altitude the rover has gained?  10m? 

Phil

1smlstp

Member

From: 3rd planet

Registered: 2004-01-29

Posts: 32

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

This is a HUGE crater. I'm thinking there could be some outcrops in it if they are as small/thin as the one Opportunity is examining now.

synthomus,
Looks like atamoid already posted the image with the heat shield and parachute locations. [http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 0123a.html]Here is the press release that has a link to the large (4 mb) version of this image.

Phil,
I thought this was a pretty flat area and there would not be any change in elevation except the height of the crater rim. Is that the change in elevation you're refering to?

Arccos

Member

From: Czechia

Registered: 2004-01-07

Posts: 46

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

Ok, you have seen the heatshield. Now look at the parachute:

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My knowledge of the English language is poor - but still I'm here .

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

[http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/m … 40311.html]Pic of Earth...from Mars 

*I scrolled back through the most recent posts, and don't see that anyone else has posted this.

Earth snapshot...first ever from another planet, courtesy of Spirit. 

"The Spirit rover on Mars took the first picture of Earth ever made from the surface of another planet. It also did a little astronomy, imaging bright stars.

It also spotted what could be a Viking Orbiter spacecraft or a meteor -- scientists aren't sure which.

The photo of Earth shows the planet as a bright dot above the horizon about an hour before sunrise. The image is not in color, though scientists say if a human stood in the same spot and looked earthward, home would probably appear pale blue."

*Check out pics to the right, in the article:  Betelgeuse, Phobos across the Sun, etc.

--Cindy 

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We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

I saw that when I woke up this morning Cindy, it sent chills up my spine! Really a fantastic image, and it quite puts things into perspective. Too bad it's not a color image.

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

cassioli

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2004-02-23

Posts: 218

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

[http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/m … 40311.html]Pic of Earth...from Mars 

"The Spirit rover on Mars took the first picture of Earth ever made from the surface of another planet. It also did a little astronomy, imaging bright stars.

It also spotted what could be a Viking Orbiter spacecraft or a meteor -- scientists aren't sure which.

????? Is the Viking orbiter still there?!?!?

Luca

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: Spirit & Opportunity*4* - continue here

[http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/m … 40311.html]Pic of Earth...from Mars 

"The Spirit rover on Mars took the first picture of Earth ever made from the surface of another planet. It also did a little astronomy, imaging bright stars.

It also spotted what could be a Viking Orbiter spacecraft or a meteor -- scientists aren't sure which.

????? Is the Viking orbiter still there?!?!?

Luca

*Hi Luca.  Yep.  No longer operative of course, but still orbiting Mars.

We had a discussion a long time ago, in a different thread, about how long it would take for satellites' orbits to decay around Mars; I can't remember what the estimate was.

--Cindy

::EDIT::  Josh...exactly! 

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We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)