Skip to comments.
Martian Soil in 3-D
NASA - JPL ^
| 1-16-04
| NASA
Posted on 01/18/2004 4:32:08 PM PST by Phil V.
This image taken by the microscopic imager on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the powdery soil of Mars in 3-D. It is the sharpest look yet at the surface of another planet. The microscopic imager is located on the rover's instrument deployment device, or "arm." . . .
This close-up look at a patch of martian soil is the sharpest image ever taken of another planet. The picture was captured by the microscopic imager located on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's instrument deployment device, or "arm." Scientists liken the alien soil to clumpy cocoa powder. The upper left corner of the soil patch is illuminated by direct sunlight and thus appears brighter. The actual size of the patch is about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) across.
<
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: mars
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-86 next last
To: Grut
Nice try, but whoever photoshopped it . . .Sorry . . . raw images direct from Mars . . . direct from NASA/JPL site . . . . Or you suggesting that NASA/JPL edits the pics before posting?
61
posted on
01/18/2004 7:08:23 PM PST
by
Phil V.
To: Phil V.
Hey Phill!!! That's El Dorado Chysotile ASBESTOS!!!
We oughta open a bar up there! Whataya think we oughta name it?
Hemmmmm... Hawwwwwww... er, how 'bout the MARS BAR?
(Sorry to be so irreverent)
62
posted on
01/18/2004 7:10:15 PM PST
by
SierraWasp
(America is our house! Throwing open the door to trespassers is wrong and everybody knows it !!!)
To: Phil V.
It appears that the soil in the sunlit portion is more smooth, or "deflated". That would bolster the frost heave theory, as the heaving material would probably sublimate (whether CO2 or H2O) and dissappear upon lighting and IR absorption and they lander shaded area would hold together for longer. Now, under that theory, it would simplify things if there is a subterreanian (and possibly renewable) source for the fluids to wick upward under cappilary action during warm periods.
That, BTW, would also create a nutrient and salt transport mechanism in the subsurface for any critters that might make the soil column home. The only downside is, unless they cycle dormant near surface with seasons or days, they would be below the frost depth, which is probably below the landers drilling\scooping capability.
63
posted on
01/18/2004 7:13:25 PM PST
by
Axenolith
(<tag>)
To: SierraWasp
I'll bet EID could find water up thar!!!
64
posted on
01/18/2004 7:14:30 PM PST
by
Phil V.
To: demlosers
you could also try candy wrappers, gotta red and blue one works ok.. :)
65
posted on
01/18/2004 7:21:32 PM PST
by
battousai
(Coming Soon to an election near you: Pasty White Hillary and the Nine Dwarfs!)
To: Phil V.
Yup! Get ol Harry Dunlop outa bed and send him up there to plumb the planet!!!
Loring Brunius could mine that asbestos till the cows came home!!!
Do ya spose there's enough grabity to ski on that stuff?
66
posted on
01/18/2004 7:26:58 PM PST
by
SierraWasp
(America is our house! Throwing open the door to trespassers is wrong and everybody knows it !!!)
To: Phil V.
...Or you suggesting that NASA/JPL edits the pics before posting? All I can tell you is that if I used Photoshop to insert a rock into that picture and did a really crappy job, it would look just like that rock does. It's not only that there's no shadow beside it, but the edges of the 'rock' are much more sharply defined than those of the other rocks; it's typical of what happens when you cut an object out of a larger picture and don't blur the edges a little before you paste it into a new background.
I dunno; maybe I'm wrong; or maybe NASA got hacked.
67
posted on
01/18/2004 7:33:36 PM PST
by
Grut
To: SierraWasp
Goddammit, shut up 'bout asbestos of th' whole damned Mars mission will be tied up by the enviros!
68
posted on
01/18/2004 7:33:56 PM PST
by
Phil V.
To: Grut
The lack of shadow is due to (probably due to) the angle of inclination of the face of the rock being less than the angle of the sun above the horizon of Mars. The face is not "verticle" enough to cast a shadow.
69
posted on
01/18/2004 7:38:18 PM PST
by
Phil V.
To: Phil V.
It has been a long time since I had any soils classes, but isn't it possible that charged particles, like Bentonite clay, could produce structure like that in the photos? Aeolean (wind) erosion might have an effect due to varied density in the particle composition. Mars has a very thing atmosphere and may admit a very high number of 'micro' meteors with substantial velocity - could this kind of impact create a texture like that seen? As a kid, I collected some meteors over the course of a week in a bedsheet left outside and then combed with a magnet and the number was quite suprising. I don't know - just spinning wool...
To: Lawdoc
"Wouldn't it sublimate at Martian pressure and temperatures?"
Yes.
To: Phil V.
I'd settle for a transfer of their curse on CA to some location out of this world! I've often said we need to export EnvironMentalism. It's sure worn out it's welcome here!!!
72
posted on
01/18/2004 8:26:33 PM PST
by
SierraWasp
(America is our house! Throwing open the door to trespassers is wrong and everybody knows it !!!)
To: bonesmccoy
73
posted on
01/18/2004 8:48:31 PM PST
by
Phil V.
To: Phil V.
Thanks for the ping!
To: Phil V.
thanks for the cool link.
It's been a while since I've been able to line up stereoscopic pics. JPL kept posting huge files that were too big to line up on my monitor.
I sure hope they start posting more pics and giving better updates.
Less than one week to go for Opportunity!
75
posted on
01/18/2004 9:27:12 PM PST
by
bonesmccoy
(defend America...get vaccinated.)
To: Kirkwood
I saw the same illusion. Like mouse paw prints. Just you watch--those same tabloids that publish Elvis is alive stories and the face on mars pictures will have some new fun with these latest photos.
I can't wait to see what interpretations they'll dream up.
To: luvbach1
Looks like coarse stucco to me.
Planet Stucco...
To: Phil V.
bump so I can find those 3d glasses
To: Phil V.
WOW! DIRT!
79
posted on
01/19/2004 5:04:53 AM PST
by
from occupied ga
(Your government is your most dangerous enemy, and Bush is no conservative)
To: Axenolith
the fluids to wick upward under cappilary action It's -42 here today. There is no liquid phase water on exposed surfaces except in the river near the power plant outlet (non-toxic, for those whose knee is twitching,) and there is no liquid wicking up. However, the gas phase of water is migrating. As long as the air is quiet hoar frost continues to build on all exposed surfaces. It can get several inches thick near the river after a couple weeks. The gas phase of water transitions to the solid, crystalline phase and vice versa very easily even at 40 below zero.
80
posted on
01/19/2004 10:27:50 AM PST
by
RightWhale
(Repeal the Law of the Excluded Middle)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-86 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson