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#251 2005-08-25 08:30:19

Rxke
Member
From: Belgium
Registered: 2003-11-03
Posts: 3,669

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Heehee, Cindy, I had Stu in mind when I changed the Avatar!

But, i really have grown to kinda like the little sundial, honest!
Now, when using Midnight Mars Browser, it loads *all* images that come down, so also the sundial, and... I always look at them!
because the dust buildup on and around it is pretty interesting... Of course manually browsing through  the pictures would put me squarely in Stu's camp, now using the 'sit back and let the browser download it for you MMB, it's yet another datapoint.


downside is I exceeded my monthly download limit by letting MMB download older sol imagery in the background.  lol


(EDIT:) Ah, yes: that jan 04 (here at least) was my best birthday in eons!

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#252 2005-08-25 11:52:59

REB
Banned
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: 2004-04-07
Posts: 555
Website

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 65L6M1.JPG  Look at the upper right. Spirit's lander or parachute?

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 66L2M1.JPG Look at the top center. Bonneville crater?

Rember this view; http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … R1_br2.jpg Wishing we were over in those hills. Now we are at the top of one (We as in Spirit, of course).


"Run for it? Running's not a plan! Running's what you do, once a plan fails!"  -Earl Bassett

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#253 2005-08-25 12:51:57

aldo12xu
Member
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: 2005-04-04
Posts: 31

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

I've created a page that identifies points on the horizon in Spirit rover panoramas and ties them in to landmarks on orbital images.  For instance, that crater that REB pointed out is actually to the north.  But the coolest news is that we can actually see Ma'adim Valles from the sol 583 panorama that was created by NIX at http://www.awalkonmars.com/big_smile

So, please check out my homepage below, click on the Gusev Horizon photo and then after that you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Cheers,
Aldo.

Horizon566_ss.jpg


[url=http://www.marsgeo.com/]http://www.marsgeo.com/[/url]

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#254 2005-08-25 12:57:37

Rxke
Member
From: Belgium
Registered: 2003-11-03
Posts: 3,669

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

I already did! (following the discussions on unmannedspaceflight)

VERY nice stuff, huge thumbs up, aldo!

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#255 2005-08-25 13:18:38

REB
Banned
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: 2004-04-07
Posts: 555
Website

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

I have been head deep in .net code, so I have not had time to map out where things are in relation to Spirit. I am glad someone is. Good work!

So where should bwe look for the lander, parachute and Bonneville crater from Spirit's current position. They should be visible..

Also, if we were currently standing at this spot http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … R1_br2.jpg what would Spirit look like up on the hill? Would it be little more than a dot?


"Run for it? Running's not a plan! Running's what you do, once a plan fails!"  -Earl Bassett

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#256 2005-08-26 05:20:14

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

News briefing

*Scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1st, beginning @ 1:00 p.m. EDT.  And I do like that photo. 

--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)

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#257 2005-08-30 06:35:51

REB
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From: Houston, Texas
Registered: 2004-04-07
Posts: 555
Website

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Cindy, I know you like dunes. Check out this one up close;
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 71L2M1.JPG


"Run for it? Running's not a plan! Running's what you do, once a plan fails!"  -Earl Bassett

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#258 2005-08-30 07:44:46

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Cindy, I know you like dunes. Check out this one up close;
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/ … 71L2M1.JPG

*Nice.  Such jagged, sharp rocks in the foreground.  Almost as good as actually being there. 

The sand must be extremely fine, like gypsum sand.  The sand in this portion of the Chihuahuan Desert is whisper-fine; that's what I imagine the sand in those dunes to be like.

--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)

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#259 2005-08-31 15:18:59

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

On top of spa-gheeeeet-iiii, all covered with cheese....

*Whoops, ha ha ha.  tongue  I meant on top of Husband Hillbig_smile  Spirit's odometry is 3.00 miles.  It's currently at the crest of HH; the area is described as moderately flat and rather easy to navigate (good news).  Spirit's been given no time to rest, however.  It's being busied taking 360 degree full-color panoramic images, which will take 4 Sols to complete.  That'll be awesome; can't wait.

--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)

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#261 2005-09-02 09:35:48

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

*Arrgh, my eyes.   :x  :shock:  Had to really turn up my monitor's contrast and brightness.  Nice.  Looks like there's an area of lighter soil way in the distance, just to the left (and abutting onto) the 2nd most distant (very distant) tall hill.  I wonder if it's a large patch of lighter-colored sand?  Who knows of course...just wondering "aloud."

Way to go, Spirit.  smile  Have been anticipating TN Valley for quite a while.

--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)

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#262 2005-09-02 18:05:24

MacAndrew
Banned
From: Sinharat
Registered: 2005-03-10
Posts: 7

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Palomar, I was wondering whether you have seen this. Maybe not 100% accurate, but gorgeous. Just in the very unlikely case you haven't seen it yet...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/ … nMoons.jpg

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#263 2005-09-02 18:43:30

MacAndrew
Banned
From: Sinharat
Registered: 2005-03-10
Posts: 7

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Though everyone is probably well aware of that, I find it my duty to add that I found the above picture in this forum:

http://www.markcarey.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt- … 21&show=20

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#264 2005-09-03 01:52:58

Julius Caeser
Member
From: Malta
Registered: 2004-03-25
Posts: 105

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

I believe the constellation we're seeing there is that of Taurus,with the 7 sisters cluster clearly visible.I'm impressed at the clarity of the night pic.I wonder if the  moonlight is real thou! :rolleyes:Orion is higher up to the right of Taurus and amazing how the Orion nebula{in red }is clearly visible!!! yikes

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#265 2005-09-03 05:18:19

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Palomar, I was wondering whether you have seen this. Maybe not 100% accurate, but gorgeous. Just in the very unlikely case you haven't seen it yet...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/ … nMoons.jpg

*Hi, welcome to New Mars.  No, I hadn't seen it yet -- though I've seen a similar photo recently IIRC (so much to keep track of).  Julius Caesar is correct:  That's Taurus and the Pleiades -- though upside down.  smile

--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)

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#266 2005-09-07 10:28:40

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

The View from Husband Hill

*Scroll to your heart's content.  cool  Astropix always does a very fine job of hosting images and this is one of the better.

The hills in the distance are so enticing.  It's strange to realize again that such a large planet and "right next door" has never had a human footprint upon it.

--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)

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#267 2005-09-08 09:46:13

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Some of what is needed to be known has been garnard by Spirit, Oportunity and by the Mars express. So much more will be needed in the years to come.
The Missing Martian Carbonates


Seems like mars is a very sulfur oreinted planet at this time.

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#268 2005-09-10 09:14:04

Stu
Member
From: Kendal, Cumbria, England
Registered: 2001-09-04
Posts: 318
Website

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Hi guys,

Glad my make-believe image of Phobos and Deimos shining above Gusev went down well...  big_smile

Here's another - the view from  Meridiani on Christmas Day. From the bottom - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter - and Earth...  :shock:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/cumbriansky/xmas-day-small-b.jpg[/img]


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]

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#269 2005-09-10 09:18:03

Stu
Member
From: Kendal, Cumbria, England
Registered: 2001-09-04
Posts: 318
Website

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)


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]

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#270 2005-09-11 18:35:22

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

*Stu -- hi, glad to see you again.  Don't be a stranger.  wink

Moons of Mars

An animation from Spirit of Deimos and Phobos!

An animation has been produced showing both Martian moons -- Deimos on the left and Phobos on the right – as they travel across the night sky in front of the constellation Sagittarius. Part of Sagittarius resembles an upside-down teapot. Phobos is the brighter object on the right; Deimos is on the left.

Spirit acquired the enhanced-brightness images with its panoramic camera on the night of August 26, 2005.

Terrific. 

Also released is a sequence of images of Mars' largest moon, Phobos.

Another use of this nighttime imagery is to look for the presence of nighttime clouds or haze.

The ability of Spirit to become a nighttime skywatcher on Mars is the rover's extra solar energy collected during the day.

--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)

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#271 2005-09-12 14:07:39

aldo12xu
Member
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: 2005-04-04
Posts: 31

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

I just completed a summary of what we know of the layered volcanic rocks and outcrops at Columbia Hills.  It sort of tries to put a few things in perspective. Hopefully NASA's upcoming observations from the Husband Hill summit will give them a good structural model for the Hills so we can tie everything together.

Just click on the "Layered Volcanics" link on my homepage.

Homeplate583_ss.jpg

PS: Stu's "make believe" photos of Phobos and Deimos are great.  There was one he did with the Milky Way as viewed from Husband Hill that was pretty cool.


[url=http://www.marsgeo.com/]http://www.marsgeo.com/[/url]

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#272 2005-09-13 10:20:20

C M Edwards
Member
From: Lake Charles LA USA
Registered: 2002-04-29
Posts: 1,012

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

What on Mars did this?

Notice the circular formations in the lower part of the picture?  There are more of them in other panoramas from sol 578.

I have no idea what that is.  It does not appear to be a crater - the rock at the bottom isn't nearly fractured enough.  Nor is it immediately obvious that it's some sort of outgassing.  Outgassing through bedrock would leave dust deposits between vent cracks and these things look nearly dust free.

I am stumped.   8)


"We go big, or we don't go."  - GCNRevenger

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#273 2005-09-13 10:30:46

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

What on Mars did this?

Notice the circular formations in the lower part of the picture?  There are more of them in other panoramas from sol 578.

I have no idea what that is.  It does not appear to be a crater - the rock at the bottom isn't nearly fractured enough.  Nor is it immediately obvious that it's some sort of outgassing.  Outgassing through bedrock would leave dust deposits between vent cracks and these things look nearly dust free.

I am stumped.   8)

*Wish it were a color pic.  The ridges/ripples are what initially caught my eye.  I wonder if those "circular formations" wouldn't appear more oblong if we could see them from above.  I haven't a suggestion as to their cause. 

--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)

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#274 2005-09-19 06:47:33

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Update on Spirit

*Continues observations on "Husband Hill."  As we know from returned animations/images, some time was spent with Spirit observing and photographing Deimos and Phobos. 

Also this week, Spirit performed two tests to validate the ability to send commands to Spirit via the Mars Odyssey orbiter through the rover's UHF (ultra-high frequency) radio. Downlink through the Odyssey UHF relay has been the principal means for getting data from Spirit.

Mentions targets named "Irvine" and "Putative Dike." 

--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)

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#275 2005-09-20 04:12:24

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)

Oppy update

*Is in good health.  Is still heading for Erebus Crater.  They're driving Oppy as often as possible. 

The last two sols this week have been remote sensing only, due to a lack of critical data.

On Sol 582 Oppy reached the Erebus Highway.

--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)

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