Posted on 05/30/2008 3:52:40 PM PDT by sig226
Explanation: In this sweeping view, the 10 kilometer-wide crater Heimdall lies on the north polar plains of Mars. But the bright spot highlighted in the inset is the Phoenix lander parachuting toward the surface. The amazing picture was captured on May 25th by the HiRISE camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Though the lander looks like it might be dropping straight into Heimdall, it is really descending about 20 kilometers in front of the crater, in the foreground of the scene. The orbiter was 760 kilometers away from Phoenix when picture was taken, at an altitude of 310 kilometers. Subsequently the orbiter's camera was also able to image the lander on the surface. The parachute attached to the backshell and the heat shield were identified in the image, scattered nearby. Of course, the Phoenix lander itself is now returning much closer views of its landing site as it prepares to dig into the Martian surface.
OK, now that’s cool. Astounding. BTT.
The link associated with the picture is dead. Do you happen to know if there is a false color version of that image?
I heard this was taken 20 seconds after the heat shield was dropped off. Find the falling heat shield ;^)
We saw that inset image a couple days ago, but not as part of the Martian landscape. The Orbiter camera is excellent!
I saw a picture that showed the location of all three; the heat shield, parachute and Phoenix. It may have been a composit picture but it did show them on the surface. This was on FNC yesterday.
Thanks for posting, sig.
That’s true...the challenge is to find the falling heat shield in the above picture...
Thank you Sig...it’s clear as mud yet its fun as well as challenging sifting through the silt. I noticed how many threads there are and always changing throughout the day and i can see how valuable pings are.
I appreciate the assistance and again thanks for adding me to your list. ~Dixie
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