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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Jelly Donut Shaped Rock Appears on Mars
NASA ^ | January 29, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 01/30/2014 6:27:08 PM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: What if a rock that looked like a jelly donut suddenly appeared on Mars? That's just what happened in front of the robotic Opportunity rover currently exploring the red planet. The unexpectedly placed rock, pictured above, was imaged recently by Opportunity after not appearing in other images taken as recently as twelve Martian days (sols) before. Given the intriguing mystery, the leading explanation is somewhat tame -- the rock was recently scattered by one of the rover's tires. Even so, the rock's unusual light tones surrounding a red interior created interest in its composition -- as well as causing it to be nicknamed Jelly Donut. A subsequent chemical analysis showed the rock has twice the abundance of manganese than any other rock yet examined -- an unexpected clue that doesn't yet fit into humanity's understanding of the Martian geologic history. Opportunity, just passing its 10-year anniversary on Mars, continues to explore the Murray Ridge section of the rim of 22-kilometer wide Endeavor Crater.

January 29, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; donutwatch; mars; science
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[Credit: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Cornell, JPL, NASA]

1 posted on 01/30/2014 6:27:08 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 01/30/2014 6:27:38 PM PST by SunkenCiv (http://www.freerepublic.com/~mestamachine/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Correction...WAS a donut shaped rock...

3 posted on 01/30/2014 6:29:34 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: SunkenCiv

4 posted on 01/30/2014 6:34:24 PM PST by Dallas59 (Obama: The first "White Black" President.)
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To: SunkenCiv

space trash...i.e space junk


5 posted on 01/30/2014 6:34:25 PM PST by MeshugeMikey ("When you meet the unbelievers, strike at their necks..." -- Qur'an 47:4)
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To: SunkenCiv
Manganese.
Bet that would give you some major diarrhea.
6 posted on 01/30/2014 6:35:58 PM PST by right way right (America has embraced the suck of Freedumb.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Rather amazing!
Thank you so much, SunkenCiv!


7 posted on 01/30/2014 6:36:24 PM PST by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: SunkenCiv

I read today that a scientist is suing NASA (doesn’t make sense to me either) to get them to take better pictures of the rock. The suer says it’s not a rock, but spore growth. If you look, there IS something about the same shape and size in the first picture. Just strange.......


8 posted on 01/30/2014 6:37:15 PM PST by ALASKA (Disgusted......)
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To: ALASKA
Ja'evah see an ol' pile o'dog shit that had turned kind'a white ....

?

9 posted on 01/30/2014 6:43:28 PM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Looks like a used condom.


10 posted on 01/30/2014 6:43:33 PM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: mass55th

Martian turd.


11 posted on 01/30/2014 6:45:40 PM PST by zipper ("The Second Amendment IS my carry permit!" -- Ted Nugent)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sure, Martians are trying to lure our cops away.


12 posted on 01/30/2014 6:46:58 PM PST by high info voter
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To: SunkenCiv

There’s a picture of a guy sticking his tongue out right below the jelly donut.


13 posted on 01/30/2014 6:49:14 PM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: SunkenCiv

Ich bin ein Berliner auf der Straße.


14 posted on 01/30/2014 6:50:19 PM PST by bmwcyle (People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)
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To: SunkenCiv
"...the leading explanation is somewhat tame -- the rock was recently scattered by one of the rover's tires."

It's an idiotic "explanation"! Why? Because anyone can see that the pebbles immediately surrounding the "rock" are still visible in the 'before' and 'after' pictures. If the rover "scattered" that rock, it would have 'collateral-scattering' surrounding the rock as well.

15 posted on 01/30/2014 6:51:20 PM PST by LibFreeUSA
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To: SunkenCiv; Salamander


16 posted on 01/30/2014 7:01:19 PM PST by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Nice paving stones, but somebody needs to get out the broom and do a little sweeping.


17 posted on 01/30/2014 7:01:32 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: SunkenCiv

“Opportunity, just passing its ten year anniversary on Mars”

It’s a piece of birthday cake.


18 posted on 01/30/2014 7:03:43 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: SunkenCiv
Not seeing the forest for the tree, or the rock. In the background, the ground appears to be made of flagstone.

If natural, it would mean the ground was worn off at a flat level.

If this was wind, one would expect the "grout" to be softer or harder than the stone, and thus leave irregular level.

But the ground is flat, indicating what, a glacier, an unnaturally prepared surface?

19 posted on 01/30/2014 7:05:47 PM PST by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

20 posted on 01/30/2014 7:07:57 PM PST by gortklattu (God knows who is best, everybody else is making guesses - Tony Snow)
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