Astronomy Picture of the Day 8-28-02

NASA ^ | 8-28-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 August 28

3D Mars: Northern Terra Meridiani
Credit: Malin Space Science Systems, MGS, JPL, NASA

Explanation: In this spectacular 3D stereoscopic view from orbit, steep-sided, flat-topped hills stand above the Terra Meridiani region of Mars. Seen best with red/blue glasses (red for the left eye), the structures are reminiscent of buttes and mesas found in southwestern areas of the North American continent on planet Earth. Like their terrestrial counterparts, these layered martian outcrops apparently formed of hard sedimentary rocks with surrounding softer material eroded away. The possibility that surface water laid down the formations makes the Terra Meridiani region a tempting target for future exploration by Mars landers. But alternative explanations include material deposited by wind or accumulations of volcanic ash. The area pictured is about 3 kilometers across, maybe a thirty minute walk over flat ground. Terrestrial rock climbers take note; you and your equipment would only weigh around 1/3 as much in the lower martian surface gravity.

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Fun Fact:

Two robotic landers are scheduled to arrive at Mars in January 2004. These "rovers" will work remotely with Earth-based scientists (yes there will be a [varying] time delay). This interactive mission promises to provide gigabytes of data. Launch date for the Mars Exploration Rover mission is spring/summer 2003. This is, then, a "fast track" trajectory; time to arrive will be no more than, say, 9 months.

Get on the list!

[petuniasevan]

[sleavelessinseattle]

I could eat 1/3 more pancakes and weigh the same! Mars needs Syrup!

[sleavelessinseattle]

duh...1/3 should=2/3!

[dread78645]

Doesn't matter. I ain't eatin' no blue-green pancakes !

[MeekOneGOP]

[2Trievers]

&;-)

[fnord]

where can I download the red/green glasses?

[fnord]

doh! red/blue would be even better :-)

[BossyRoofer]

MARS MESA'S! Great picture, APOD!

[sleavelessinseattle]

doesn't matter. I ain't eatin' no blue-green pancakes !

But they're in 3D!!!

[headsonpikes]

Now we need special glasses to view posts.

Kewl! ;^)

[RightWhale]

These red-green stereo pictures are annoying. I can never find my red-green glasses. Much better if they put up two separate images.

[sleavelessinseattle]

LOL! I just spent 10 minutes looking for a roll of red saran wrap I remembered seeing in my kitchen miscellany drawer...I don't know what I would do for the blue side...look through a mouthwash bottle? LOL...Its a conspiracy...

[petuniasevan]

Here's a link with places to get the red/blue glasses.

http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/mpf/glasses.html