What's that? New rock in Mars rover photos baffles scientists, fans

chron.com ^ | January 16, 2014 | Carol Christian |

[BenLurkin]

Practically overnight, an unexplained piece of rock has shown up on photos from NASA's Mars rover Opportunity, according to the digital Russian TV network RT (Russia Today).

The rover hasn't moved in over a month, as it waits for better weather, but a photo taken on Sol 3540 (Jan. 8, or the 3,540th Martian solar day since the Opportunity rover landed) shows a rock that wasn't visible in previous photos taken on Sol 3536.

...

Staffers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California who maintain the rover camera (pancam) database for NASA have named the rock Pinnacle Island.

[higgmeister]

LOL first thing I thought, and laughed at post of Kirk & Alien.

Yes, but how many of us knew at a glance that was The Horta?

[KoRn]

/mark

[mrsmith]

Looks like popcorn to me. How many people are in the Rover anyway?

Seriously it is an interesting looking rock.

[Louis Foxwell]

In bass or treble cleft?

[ansel12]

Being a metate, that opens up another whole other issue.

[smokingfrog]

[NCDave]

Stupid question time: Why is it that when I go to the link,I see no pics that you guys are posting here...are these from the article?...Has happened alot to me. They talk about pics, go to link, no pics. I don’t know what I am doing wrong....(see tagline)...lol

[PAR35]

I agree. If they are talking about the rock near the foot of the cross that someone carved into a paving stone, it’s in both pictures.

[UCANSEE2]

"Let he who is without Sun cast the first stone."

[Charles Henrickson]

Colorized:

Close-up from another angle:

[NorthMountain]

>> the rock of phages...

You should be mercilessly flogged with a wet spaghetti.

[JRandomFreeper]

Piano version, Baptist Hymnal, 1956 Convention Press, pg 103. Mom's favorite song. My first piano piece with 2 flats.

Oy... talk about specific...

/johnny

[UCANSEE2]

The atmospheric pressure is so low on Mars there wouldn’t be enough PSI to move a rock,

Well... they have dust devils on Mars.

[JRandomFreeper]

but how many of us knew at a glance that was The Horta?

WAY too many.

And some of us date girls.

/johnny

[mikrofon]

Martian Monster Molar

[Cold Heart]

Great, now there’s a face carved in the base rock.

[SunkenCiv]

It does appear to be in both shots, just different lighting.

[Charles Henrickson]

[dr_lew]

Looks like it’s in both photos to me.

Yup. The lighting and angle are a little different, and the second image is higher resolution, as presented.

[mrsmith]

Ha! Now I see it. Just below that pointed part of the rock , to the lower left corner.
Kinda like in “The Scream” painting.