Unusual Looking Martian Rock

NONE | 1-9-04 | Orion78

[Orion78]

The original image from NASA is HERE

Location of Rock in Question

Close Up

[Orion78]

Yes, the Hematite. I am very excited about MER B and where it is going to land. I am trying to not get my hopes up too much though, it seems like every time I get excited about a Mars mission it crashes or they lose contact with it.

I do remember the first pancam image. I have it up on my screen but I can't really see anything that catches my eye at the moment. What area in the picture is it located?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Actually, what I find more interesting is the two dark areas within smooth mostly rockless, crater like area, beyond the rock that you pointed out.

The two dark areas, within that crater like depression look interesting, if they are not bounce marks made by the airbags.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

I heard on the news yesteray that the craft landed in something and the ground appearered to fold...like mud...but that it cant be mud because of the lack of water. They interviewed someone from NASA and he said that they were very curious to examine it because it may be a new discovery.

I have no idea if there is a link on FR yet

[LPM1888]

It looks like a hole to me. I wonder if the rover has the capability to look in it?

[Tim Osman]

Because it's not within the bounds of our constitutional government.

I'm actually very pro-space exploration, but if I wanted to fund it, I'd fund the X-Prize. We've got enough to worry about here on earth.

"To explore strange new worlds" is the mission of the Enterprise, not a passage from our constitution.

[sexyd]

it looks like a picture from Prince Edward Island.

[AppauledAtAppeasementConservat]

This is my first time trying to post an image so if it doesn't show up then you will know why. This rock is in the lower center of the jan 5 image. I'd say about 1/4 of the way up from the bottom of the image in the center. It's small and hard to see in the preview image. OK here it is:

[Orion78]

They appear to be the same color as the disturbed ground near the rover from where the airbags have been dragged in. If it is not from bounce marks, which I think NASA has suggested it is, then I wonder what in the world could have disturbed the ground inside "Sleepy Hollow".

[baseballfanjm]

This isn't too hugh, is it?

[xp38]

Petra Rocks!! Yeah I know redundancy. :)

[Orion78]

I think the rover has a micro-cam which can take highly detailed close up images. I am just making an assumption, but if there is enough light I am sure they could position the rover to see inside it, (assuming it is a hole and not a shadow), with one of the cams. If not with the pancam or the micro-cam, then maybe with one of the nav-cams. I believe they are lower to the ground than the other cameras.

[Joe Hadenuf]

My thoughts too.

[xp38]

While not planted there is a flag painted on the viking lander from 1976.

[weegee]

Sheila Jackson Mars BUMP

[Joe Hadenuf]

It's my opinion thay those are not bounce marks within that area, as it seems to close to the craft to be bounce marks. How could it have been still bouncing yet come to a stop that close to the marks? Given the surface gravity, it just doesn't seem likely.

[Pro-Bush]

_Jim, I read your posts all the time.

You are the ultimate debunker!

[hobson]

The rock sort of looks like Sheila Jackson Lee.

You just insulted the rock.

[Lancey Howard]

Is the rover anywhere near where the astronauts left the American flag?

[Orion78]

It worked =). Indeed that is a very interesting rock. It looks as though it has been recently broken and hasn't been weathered much. If I got to pick, that would be a target too. I am not sure if you could tell how it cracked though by looking at it. I am not a geologist either.

[Orion78]

It does seem too close to be bounce marks. Perhaps it was mostly rolling and not bouncing though. I read somewhere an estimate of how far away "sleepy hollow" was from the rover, I will try to dig it up.