First pictures of Mars Rover (Opportunity) "trenching" . . . comments/speculation encouraged

NASA - JPL ^ | 2-16-2004 | NASA/JPL

[Phil V.]

Comments/speculation?

stereo strip of trench . . .

[Aracelis]

The moon keeps the stresses moving, which creates heat, and helps "break up" the surface, and the oceans (due to the moon) provide a massive amount of weight constantly shifting back and forth on a daily basis.

A geophysicist would probably say such effects are negligible relative to the influence of Earth's dynamic core and mantle. However, as a confirmed member of the "lunatic fringe" in geoscience, I feel that Jim Berklund is on to something, and that tidal stresses do periodically add significant stress...not in generating heat (radionuclides do that job quite well), but in flexing already weakened regions of the Earth's crust.

[Aracelis]

Do you know if there are any stats on what percentage of earth's topsoil is comprised of this stuff?

Not off the top of my head, but I will see if I can find any information. Of course, you realize that this influx of extraterrestrial material is simply the same sort of accretion that has been occurring since the beginnings of our Solar System.

[Don Joe]

Of course, you realize that this influx of extraterrestrial material is simply the same sort of accretion that has been occurring since the beginnings of our Solar System.

Yup. I just like knowing what I'm digging my fingers in when I'm gardening. :)

[Don Joe]

not in generating heat (radionuclides do that job quite well), but in flexing already weakened regions of the Earth's crust.

Isn't tidal flexing suspected as the cause for some of Jupiter's moons having molten cores? (It wouldn't apply to our moon, because it's tidal-locked, but perhaps ages ago, before it locked, it might have explained lunar volcanoes?)

[R. Scott]

With that much static - wind with very little moisture? - I’d hate to be the first one to step on the planet.

[Aracelis]

Earth's atmosphere contains approximately 78.1% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 0.9% argon and 0.1% carbon dioxide and other gases. The Martian atmosphere consists largely of carbon dioxide (~95.3%), and nitrogen (~2.7%) with minor amounts of argon, oxygen and other gases. The Martian atmosphere is said to be in equilibrium with its geology, whereas the Earth with all the attendant biota, is definitely not.

[Aracelis]

Isn't tidal flexing suspected as the cause for some of Jupiter's moons having molten cores?

Absolutely! :^) Check out this page.

"What force is responsible for powering the volcanoes on Io? On Earth, the heat source that produces volcanic activity comes from energy released from the decay of radioactive materials within the interior, as well as from heat left over from Earth's formation. But Io is too small to have left over accretional heat, and radioactive decay could not generate the tremendous energy required to power all of the volcanic activity that exists on the moon. The answer is tidal heating. Tidal heating is the heating of the interior of one planetary body caused by stresses induced from the gravitational pull of another."

[Aracelis]

I just like knowing what I'm digging my fingers in when I'm gardening

As a fellow gardener, I empathize...however some things are best left as mysteries (e.g. worm castings and other such organic material). ;^)

[DannyTN]

I like the old Mar's bars when the almond was on top in the chocolate.

[Dead Dog]

"This is gonna take a whole lot a floorin'"

[WhiteGuy]

It cost an awful lot of our money so you can write your pessimistic bullsh*t.


I wonder what type of guy believes it is good or right to spend other peoples' money?

Any thoughts?

[Frank_Discussion]

The type of guy who lives in a representative republic.

You get to vote your preferences, so vote for congressional candidates and presidential admistrations that will stop spending on things you don't want to be in the budget.

Good Luck finding a winning candidate that will agree with you on all counts, and specifically on space programs.

Look, I don't fault you for feeling the way you do, but there is a reason your sentiment doesn't stick. You are in a strict minority in being against this sort of thing. That's how it works here.

FWIW, I had a headache when I responded earlier. Sorry I took it out on you.

[Frank_Discussion]

Oh, and I think you missed my point: The internet started as a govenrment project. Pretty expensive at the time, but we don't notice the cost any more.

If space can be properly addressed as the internet has been allowed to, then that makes the government spending on it much more palatable.

[LibWhacker]

It would have to be awfully soft bedrock since the tread on Opportunity's wheels have left impressions in it. The trench was slated to be dug on an area of the crater's wall dubbed "Hematite Slope." So we would expect this trench to be rich in hematite. But hematite is blackish red in color, not white.

It could be some kind of light colored mineral associated with hematite, except that there doesn't seem to be much of it in the impressions left by the ridges on Opportunity's wheels . . . I'm going with the reflected light theory . . .

[Don Joe]

The type of guy who lives in a representative republic.

You get to vote your preferences, so vote for congressional candidates and presidential admistrations that will stop spending on things you don't want to be in the budget.

Good Luck finding a winning candidate that will agree with you on all counts, and specifically on space programs.

Look, I don't fault you for feeling the way you do, but there is a reason your sentiment doesn't stick. You are in a strict minority in being against this sort of thing. That's how it works here.

Davy Crockett lived in a representative republic. Arguably more of a representative republic than any of us have lived in. He had a thing or two to say on the topic. Google can find 'em for you, it's not hard, his words are all over the web. Search for his name, and the word "charity" and you'll find no end of information.

BTW, I'm with Davy. He won a position to elected office, didn't he? Well, that's my kind of politician. I'll go with his concept of a representative republic over yours, no offense intended.

"How it works here" may be "how it works here" now, but it's not how it's meant to work here. It's not what the founders fought and died to leave us. If it's what we've got, it speaks to our loss. If it's what we accept -- what we embrace -- it speaks to our shame.

[Frank_Discussion]

ok

[andertone]

Hi:

Another geologists opinion here, it looks very much
like the bedrock seen in the crater walls. The dust/soil is probably alluvium and wind-born. It would be nice to get a cross-sectional view of the trench to see
if there are any aeolian structures there

[Drumbo]

I caught a tidbit on radio something about the largest diamond in history having been found. Maybe it was found on Mars.:-)

Nope - That one is 50 light-years away: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds "thrills astronomers" <--- Link

[eldoradude]

Nice post! This is where most of the intelligent life seems to gather...

[eldoradude]

OK, what's the white stuff in the tracks?

Really, really slow Martians.