Optical illusion . . . or . . . Photo evidence of ancient Martian receding lake level?

NASA,JPL & pharmerphil's Photoshop 6 ^ | 1-11-2004 | Phil V. & Socks C.

[jnarcus]

According to whom? Just curious as to what your background in thermodynamics or incompressible flow is that allows you to make such a statement....

[Phil V.]

Which statement of mine gives you heartburn?

[brooklin]

Did you happen to notice the crushed marlboro wrapper in the upper lefthand corner.

[RightWhale]

a time shift between the photos

The light source would change direction, the shadows would move. Right? I would go with a kind of Moire effect.

[Phil V.]

I'm having difficulty "seeing" the ability of wind to sort stones at different elevations.

But another guess/explanation would be that we are looking at multiple strata laid down over the ages and wind or water has eroded/removed material revealing strata of different composition and ages.

[RightWhale]

Strata due to seasonal effects are clearly visible in images of the polar caps. The thought on this basin is that it was flooded once. There wouldn't be much left of mud strata due to gradual drying up, it all happened at least millions of years ago and wind erosion would have smoothed the edges. It might be that some of the spectral sensors could pick up vestiges of the structure if it exists. If the pebbles retain some of the contour structure it would be much more subtle; maybe a computer analysis could pick it up once the terrain is mapped sufficiently. It would be too subtle for a stereo snapshot.

[Phil V.]

My thoughts on the mud/sand strata . . . The "lake" was not filled in a one-time-event. There was a wet period on Mars that provided this lake with multiple recharges of water laden with silt creating multiple strata. At the same time Mars is constantly bombarded with meteors impacting from all angles and with varying degrees of "explosiveness" showering rock fragments onto/into the lake and embeding gradually in the accumulating mud floor.

How 'bout dem apples?

[RightWhale]

I am hoping they find permafrost not far down under the dry layer. How far will this rover dig? A later rover will have a drill for coring to a fair depth.

BTW, apparently the Rover is the power source for the platform, and when the Rover disconnects tomorrow, the platform will become inert.

[winker]

I noticed this too. West of Big Spring,Texas there is a similar surface feature on Interstate 20 before you get to Stanton, Texas. These dry lake beds stay hard and crusted over most of the time but like out in California at Edwards AFB water rises at night fall and the desert heat dries it up during the day. When it is very wet small shallow lakes stay there. I have found Selenite Gypsum Flowers that forms in the brackish water some 8-10 inches in diameter that are transparent! This was exactly my thought as you have indicated as well! These lakes have all types of fossils scattered about that I have collected as well.

[Phil V.]

I am hoping they find permafrost not far down under the dry layer.

AHhh . . . That's another angle!

Frost heave could possibly have created this pattern?

[aruanan]

I liked the story from that site about NASA nuking Jupiter.

[Graymatter]

It's a lake bed of course. Don't you see the lakehouses in the background? (About one-quarter of the way down and one-quarter to the right, two identical houses up to the roofs in dust.)

[glorgau]

I think it looks like wheel marks from the rover going in a circle. Perhaps it is from ancient Martian stock cars?

[furball4paws]

What would bounce inpressions look like. We should see some.

[Phil V.]

What would bounce inpressions look like. We should see some.

I'd say that there's a "reasonable chance" that this very same picture has captured a bounce impression . . . dark splotch left side . . .

[Phil V.]

The rover is not yet on the surface brodying around.

[Reactionary]

The two images are slightly offset. If you put one on top of another in Photoshop and then slide the opacity slider, you can see it.

[Sacajaweau]

I know I'm dealing with some "sharp" dudes here, but how about a collapse of the surface caused by an internal force or a meteor hit??

I'm a "old" female...be kind!!