Real images of Mars

cIclops · 2006-10-12 05:22:59

As this forum has such low traffic perhaps it can also be used for presentation and discussion of the new MRO images that are just beginning to arrive from Mars orbit. It doesn't need to be restricted to MRO - Odyssey, MGO, MEX and MER imagery could also be included.

With so much data now streaming back, especially from MRO, a lot of eyeballs will help to find places that have interesting geology or just pure form.

MRO data can be selected and zoomed in from this web interface

A full list of links of the Primary Science Phase (PSP) and TRAnsitional phase images (TRA) is available here

cIclops · 2006-10-12 05:24:38

Mars sky imaged by Opportunity on Sol 950 at Meridiani Planum

Higher resolution image here

cIclops · 2006-10-16 11:07:31

Diverse materials and morphologies in the region south of Mawrth Vallis on Mars (MRO/HiRISE)

Higher resolution image and caption here

cIclops · 2006-10-20 03:14:15

Mars Polar Cap - four image composite from the MARCI camera on MRO

Higher resolution images and caption

cIclops · 2006-11-17 08:24:08

MER Opportunity's view of Victoria Crater on Sol 959

Higher resolution images and caption

cIclops · 2006-12-04 07:52:11

"Bottomless Bay" at Victoria Crater, taken on Sol 1016 by the MER Opportunity

Higher resolution image

cIclops · 2006-12-07 03:44:54

Fresh Gully Deposit in the Centauri Montes Region, images from MGS/MOC

Higher resolution images and captions

cIclops · 2006-12-08 06:26:17

img3_1343_Crater_Ice_L,0.jpg
Water ice dome on the floor of Vastitas Borealis Crater (MEX/HRSC)

High resolution image

cIclops · 2006-12-10 17:50:12

Gratteri Crater - Mars Odyssey THEMIS image

Zoomable image and detailed caption

cIclops · 2006-12-14 04:16:14

Layers Exposed at Polar Canyon (MRO/HiRISE)

Caption and higher resolution images

cIclops · 2006-12-18 10:02:07

Victoria crater overlooking "Bottomless Bay" on Sol 1030 (image stitched by Marscat)
MER Opportunity solar panels in foreground

Higher resolution images

cIclops · 2007-01-02 10:08:40

New Impact Crater in Arabia Terra (MGS)

Higher resolution images and caption

cIclops · 2007-01-07 13:04:12

False color image of the dune field inside Endurance Crater (MER/Opportunity)

Caption and higher resolution images

cIclops · 2007-01-07 13:14:29

Dust devil tracks in the Northern Plains (MRO/HiRISE) - imaged 11 Nov 2006

Caption and higher resolution images

The surface imaged is relatively young, as indicated by the lack of recent impact craters. Eolian and periglacial activity seem to be the dominant geological processes at work, as shown by numerous crisscrossing dust devil tracks and ubiquitous polygonal features, respectively.
Dust devils form when the sun warms up the air near a flat, dry surface. Warm air then rises quickly through the cooler air above and starts spinning, causing a forward motion. The spinning, forward-moving cell may pick up dust and sand as it advances, thus leaving behind a "clean" track. We infer from this image that a thin veneer of light-colored particles of dust and/or fine-grained sand cover relatively darker materials, apparent in the dust devil tracks.
The tracks pictured in this image are in many cases more than 30 meters (27 yards) wide and over 4 km (2.5 miles) long, surpassing the dimensions of average terrestrial dust devil tracks.
The polygons shown in this image's subset, which covers approximately 400 x 250 m (350 x 225 yards), are in the order of 10 m (0.9 yards) across; in some cases they are delimited by aligned rocks. Similar features in both shape and scale are found in terrestrial periglacial regions such as Antarctica, where ice is present at or near the surface.
Antarctica's polygons and rock alignments are produced by repeated expansion and contraction of the soil-ice mixture due to seasonal temperature oscillations; dry soil falling into the cracks form sand wedges and amplify this effect. This results in polygonal networks of stress fractures and in the resurfacing and sorting of rocks along these fractures.

cIclops · 2007-01-09 14:38:45

False color image of Nili Fossae - MSL primary candidate landing site in 2010 (Mars Odyssey/THEMIS)

Zoomable image and text

cIclops · 2007-01-24 06:47:56

Mosaic taken at sunset by MER Spirit on Sol 489 (Pancam)

Higher resolution images and caption

This image was recently polled as the best from the MERs

cIclops · 2007-01-29 16:11:20

Mojave Crater Floor and Central Uplift (MRO/HiRISE)

Higher resolution images and caption

cIclops · 2007-01-29 16:12:41

Eroding Layers in an Impact Crater (MRO/HiRISE)

Higher resolution images and caption

cIclops · 2007-02-04 06:05:00

Closeup - Hardened Lava Meets Wind (MER Spirit/Microscopic Imager)

Caption and higher resolution images

cIclops · 2007-02-04 06:09:50

"Blueberries" - Hematite concretions (MER Opportunity/Microscopic Imager)

Text and higher resolution image

dicktice · 2007-02-04 09:46:51

I can't thank you enough for those marvelous pictures. Mind telling me/us exactly how you go about acquiring and presenting them?

cIclops · 2007-02-04 14:52:01

You are most welcome. All you need is an obsession with all things Mars, a good internet connection and plenty of time The images here just happen to be ones that seemed special from the enormous number available out there.

Currently there are two MER rovers on Mars and three working orbiters (Odyssey, Mars Express and MRO), they are returning new views almost every day. Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) recently stopped working, but it has produced over 200,000 images during its lifetime. The links under each image will connect to archives for each of these sources.

dicktice · 2007-02-05 13:15:29

Thanks, over and clear.

cIclops · 2007-02-09 06:40:07

Dunes in Proctor Crater (MRO)

Larger image

cIclops · 2007-02-11 07:48:11

A great French site - full of images and explanations about the techniques used to make them

Checkout this latest colour image - Zucchelli rock (MER Spirit Pancam)

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#1 2006-10-12 05:22:59

Re: Real images of Mars

#2 2006-10-12 05:24:38

Re: Real images of Mars

#3 2006-10-16 11:07:31

Re: Real images of Mars

#4 2006-10-20 03:14:15

Re: Real images of Mars

#5 2006-11-17 08:24:08

Re: Real images of Mars

#6 2006-12-04 07:52:11

Re: Real images of Mars

#7 2006-12-07 03:44:54

Re: Real images of Mars

#8 2006-12-08 06:26:17

Re: Real images of Mars

#9 2006-12-10 17:50:12

Re: Real images of Mars

#10 2006-12-14 04:16:14

Re: Real images of Mars

#11 2006-12-18 10:02:07

Re: Real images of Mars

#12 2007-01-02 10:08:40

Re: Real images of Mars

#13 2007-01-07 13:04:12

Re: Real images of Mars

#14 2007-01-07 13:14:29

Re: Real images of Mars

#15 2007-01-09 14:38:45

Re: Real images of Mars

#16 2007-01-24 06:47:56

Re: Real images of Mars

#17 2007-01-29 16:11:20

Re: Real images of Mars

#18 2007-01-29 16:12:41

Re: Real images of Mars

#19 2007-02-04 06:05:00

Re: Real images of Mars

#20 2007-02-04 06:09:50

Re: Real images of Mars

#21 2007-02-04 09:46:51

Re: Real images of Mars

#22 2007-02-04 14:52:01

Re: Real images of Mars

#23 2007-02-05 13:15:29

Re: Real images of Mars

#24 2007-02-09 06:40:07

Re: Real images of Mars

#25 2007-02-11 07:48:11

Re: Real images of Mars

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