First colour image from Mars (Spirit) rover is up!

NASA Mars Rover web site ^ | 6 Jan 04 | NASA

[Rebelbase]

I don't think we're getting the whole story.

[Petronski]

Registered, could you add conspiracy guy in here somewhere?

I'll wager this is going to be a heavily photoshopped image on the internet...might as well beat the rush.

[dead]

That is so cool! What clarity!

[Lokibob]

In the distance, you can see what JPL is calling "sleepy Hollow", hopefully a meteor crater.

On the right, about 1/2 way down the picture, PSP cleanup shows what looks like (to me) 2 more small craters.)

[templar]

A questin for exogeologists: Why all the rocks and stones everywhere and no mountains they came from? I was kinda expecting a lot of sand (and maybe a few old ruins or someting)

[ThePointer]

Pretty cool. It would be cooler if someone could photoshop in an alien or something.

LOL. I was thinking the same thing. I want to see The Tourist Guy in there. Where is Registered when you need him.

[Maigrey]

If I had to get my puny mind around it, my guess is infrared data transmission with it being beamed in binary, and the 'puters in Houston can decipher it and translate into images.

It's way too cost-inefficient for regular commercial use, but for this, it would be effective.

[commish]

Hey... look... lower right hand corner... did OJ drop his glove again?

Oh the tinfoilists are gonna have a field day with this one. Right above the drag marks is what looks like a footprint.

Prepare for a slew of - "Mars Pictures Faked, Scientist Forgot to Erase Footprints" AND "Spirit pictures capture Alien FOOTPRINTS on Mars" --- websites and claims popping up everywhere.

[John H K]

You might choose to remind your wife that the entire planet looks that way. It's not like NASA decided to park farthest from the entrance to the mall.

The entire planet actually doesn't look that way; there's a Volcano higher than Everest and a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon that's 3,000 miles long.

All the places SAFE TO LAND look like that. And yes, they did decide to park farthest from the entrance to the mall, in a sense.

[commish]

OK tell the truth -this is Tatooine not Mars. I clearly see the Great Pit of Carkoon, the home of the almighty Sarlaac right in the center of the picture.

[John H K]

A questin for exogeologists: Why all the rocks and stones everywhere and no mountains they came from? I was kinda expecting a lot of sand (and maybe a few old ruins or someting)

Because landing by bouncing along for miles surrounded by inflateable bags doesn't work too well in mountains.

All landers so far have deliberately landed miles and miles from anywhere that wasn't almost perfectly flat, for that reason.

[beelzepug]

"I think I can see Algores footprint........"

Afghan landscape - looks like a good spot to hurt for Osama.

[Revolting cat!]

Where is everybody?

[John H K]

Could be ablated by wind driven sand.

Yep, was just looking at some of the NASA captions myself.

There aren't many places on earth where wind erosion of rocks is important but it's a big deal on Mars.

And it can look an awful lot like water erosion in smoothing things.

If they can find some rocks that are REALLY oval or round or whatever, and not just rounded where they stick out of the ground, that would indicate water-tumbled rocks, I guess.

[Lokibob]

Y-day on JPL web site, they said that it landed within 600 feet (200 meters) of the place they had aimed. That is precision.

[smith288]

Where is Registered when you need him.

Here --> FreakingNews.com

[Made In The USA]

Proof once again that we reside in the greatest country on earth. Viewing very recent pictures from Mars while I eat lunch. Not bad!

[VRWC_minion]

I can't see the flag at the sea of tranquilty, it must be a different angle. But I can see what looks like a driveway.

[Maringa]

Interesting that in the high resolution version, you can see some low rising hills in the distance (perhaps a large crater?) and looking at the thumbnails, you can't see the hills. When they provide high resolution shots of the other side, where there are hills, the photos will be more interesting...can't wait!