Unusual Object in Mars Phoenix Lander Image.

NASA ^ | 05/28/2008 | Vanity

[BubbaBasher]

This image, one of the first captured by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars. The flat landscape is strewn with tiny pebbles and shows polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal contraction and expansion of surface ice.

Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude.

This image was taken shortly after landing by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager.

[BubbaBasher]

One of the very first images that Phoenix sent back was of the Martian plain.

In this image there is a very strange object near the horizon and just to the right of center. It is white, narrow, vertical, and appears to be reflecting light. I've seen no discussion of this object on any of the Phoenix sites. Click here to view a high resolution version of this photo. Any intelligent speculation as to what it might be?

[Crazieman]

Either the heat shield, or a metallic part of the parachute system. Both landed relatively near Phoenix.

[scan59]

That is odd. Looks like a small pole atop a bigger pole. Then again, when you save to your computer and really zoom in it looks like a light refraction.

[VeniVidiVici]

[Crazieman]

Its a pixel saturation. Like I said, probably sunlight reflected right off (likely) the backplate of the Phoenix lander which held the parachute system.

The Spirit and Opportunity rovers both saw this when they looked at their heat shields.

Its not unusual or strange at all.

[Thrownatbirth]

The first Martian - and he’s white!

[Carpe Cerevisi]

[SteamShovel]

I was going to say it was a periscope.

[DBrow]

It looks like either saturated, or dead (stuck) pixels.

Sometimes a bright light can saturate several pixels in a row, making a straight line. It’s common enough that nobody would remark on it.

[theDentist]

It looks like the space where I parked my car at the last Pats game I attended. And distance seems spot on!

[js1138]

[tumblindice]

Puny Earthlings:
What you see is the tip of a Martian Interplanetary Ballistic Missile (IPBM)!
Those “mounds” you see are more missile silos.
Cease your aggression, or we will destroy your planet.
Cordially, John Carter
32nd Degree Mason, Barsoon, Mars

[CougarGA7]

It’s obviously a survey stake. KB Homes is starting a development there. And despite all that room they will still place the houses 10 feet apart.

Seriously though, it is easy for CCDs and APSs to get a row saturated, If that’s the case it can cause a line in the image. Those electrons got stuck.

[BubbaBasher]

Either the heat shield, or a metallic part of the parachute system. Both landed relatively near Phoenix.

My first thought was the heat shield but I figured it would be black and charred. I think it would be unlikely that it would stick straight up and down into the surface. However the inside of the shield might be shiney and I once dropped a nickel and it landed on it's edge so it could happen.

[Ikemeister]

the monolith

[Crazieman]

I’ve revised it and I’m pretty sure its the backplate with the parachute.

[Leisler]

[ovrtaxt]

Looks like a footprint!

[Redleg Duke]

Just the landing skid marks from John Carter’s one-man flyer.

[driftdiver]

Big Foot?

[driftdiver]

Sheesh will someone just go clean up the set. We all know this is really taking place in some warehouse and not on Mars.

[BubbaBasher]

It’s way too narrow to be Helen Thomas!

[Sicon]

"It's 'Sam the Eagle' from The Muppets!"
- Ken Keasey

[pillut48]

Barsoom.

[Tzimisce]

Could be a speck on the lens.

[JRios1968]

[Petronski]

A Martian shrine to Dick Morris?

[TexasCajun]

[commonguymd]

Interesting. Wish they could adjust focus for the horizon. The focusing seems to be for close up views.

[evets]

[steve86]

This was posted within minutes of the first photos arriving at the earth, soon after landing.

[Niteranger68]

[js1138]

I’m just stirring the pot, waiting to see if someone will start a cult around the Martian Footprint.

[spectre]

http://www.newmars.com/forums/index.php?sid=a895518279c6bf2d64bde86d6cdb7686

[mass55th]

It’s what’s left of a Kucinich for President sign.

[ClearBlueSky]

Looks like the head of ‘Nessie’ seen in those Loch photos!
That , or it could be a periscope atop one of the homes of those annoying Teletubbies. Aren’t they supposed to be aliens?
Our luck to land on Mars and find *&!!#(!#@ Teletubbies!

[FReepaholic]

It's C-3PO yelling "OVER HERE!"

[abishai]

What is that?

[cogitator]

Could actually be part of the spacecraft. Lots of pieces get ejected during the landing process. The rovers actually went and visited some of the pieces from their landing process when they were first setting out. Many of them are reflective due to the protective foil cover.

[McLynnan]

Made me literally laugh out loud. Thanks.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

There’s an alien behind the door. See the faint outline? That’s supposedly from the video of an actual alien that will be released soon. ;^)

[BubbaBasher]

Thanks for that link. Lot's of good data/analysis. Here's a photo from one of the orbiters.

The object at the top is the Phoenix lander. The object at the lower right is either the heat shield or where the heat shield struck the surface and bounced.(At least I was right about the shield being black). The white blob is the parachute and the spot right above it is the back shield.

[SunkenCiv]

LOLOLOL!

[SunkenCiv]

Phoenix photographs another piece of itself. :’)

[word_warrior_bob]

Beat me to it, I knew it was Nessie!

[word_warrior_bob]

Bigfoot and Nessie on the same thread!

The cryptozoologists are going to have a field day.

[BooBoo1000]

Nessie is just the over active imagination of a few canny Scots who are in the Tourist Business

[Redleg Duke]

I see I must hit a sore spot on all of you Thumbsuckers!

If that is the best you all can come back with, what a pity.