NASA Spirit's Tracks From Orbit (proof that aliens don't need to orbit the earth to realise it)

NASA ^ | 04/09/28

[Truth666]

Wheel tracks left by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, and even the rover itself, are visible in this partial image from the Mars Orbiter Camera on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter(+ View Full Size Image). The tracks and rover are in the area south of the informally named "Bonneville" Crater. The orbiter took this picture on March 30, 2004, 85 martian days, or sols, after Spirit landed on Mars. The rover had driven from its landing site to the rim of Bonneville and was examining materials around the crater's rim.

In this portion of the plains inside the much larger Gusev Crater, Spirit created wheel tracks darker than the undisturbed surface. The contrast allows the tracks to show up in the image obtained from orbit. Also visible in the full image are Spirit's lander, backshell and parachute, and the scar where its heat shield hit the ground.

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS

[Truth666]

This is an historic day - here is finally the proof that aliens don't need to orbit the earth to realise that there's other intelligent life somewhere else in the universe.

[Truth666]

September 27 : The Great Nebula in Orion is a colorful place (What is NASA telling us here ?)

[green iguana]

here is finally the proof that aliens don't need to orbit the earth to realise that there's other intelligent life somewhere else in the universe.

I think aliens would have been clued off by the radio emmissions way before they hit the orbit of Mars...

[green iguana]

And I also meant to say - cool pic.

[Shryke]

here is finally the proof that aliens don't need to orbit the earth to realise that there's other intelligent life somewhere else in the universe.

The pics are great, but your logic appears a bit flawed. The vehicle that took this picture is orbiting Mars, no? Why would that preclude orbiting Earth?

[Truth666]

You would imagine that aliens will come from the outer solar system. So they will check out Mars before the Earth.

[Shryke]

Ah! A debate, eh? Well, the odds that a spacecraft entering our Solar System, let's say on a line tangent with the sun, passing Mars before us, would be remote. Mars and Earth do not rotate the sun on parallel rings. Additionally, seeing as how Earth is such a neat Blue Marble, they may altogether ignore Mars.

[Between the Lines]

Additionally, seeing as how Earth is such a neat Blue Marble, they may altogether ignore Mars.

They are afraid of water. It is lethal to them.

[Truth666]

Thanks for clearing that. I was getting nervous about the possiblity of providing unfriendly aliens with intelligence for a surprise attack ...

[Shryke]

Yes - the strongest, most believable point of that wonderful wovie. A space-faring invasion force. Driven off by water.

[Between the Lines]

Wouldn't it be nice if the aliens would leave garbage scattered around on other planets like we do, so that we would not have to orbit their planet to realize that there's other intelligent life somewhere else in the universe.

[Truth666]

Let's hope so.
Note also that the orbiter took this picture on March 30, 2004, but NASA is only releasing it now.
I don't like the idea of unfriendly aliens having access to information that we don't have.

[103198]

Yes, what a mess! I wonder what kind of EIS NASA filed before the flight? Where's Ralph, the green party, the enviros - who's going to protect this planet?</Sarcasm>

[pabianice]

Computer-enhanced close-up here:

[cogitator]

There's more about this image (and the technique used to get it) at the link below:

cPROTO Views of Spirit's Rover Tracks and Athabasca Vallis Flood Features

cPROTO refers to the way that these higher-than-advertised resolution pictures were acquired.

and you can see a 50cm/pixel image here (2.1 MB from a slow site: the rover's just a black spot, but the lander shape is discernible:

50 cm image of Mars Rover Spirit and tracks

[cogitator]

ping: I thought some of you might be interested in this. For the heavy-duty geologists, check out my post above this one.

[Amish with an attitude]

"seeing as how Earth is such a neat Blue Marbles"

Silly Earthling, everyone knows that aliens can't see the color blue.

[Shryke]

Yes, but they can smell it just fine. Even through space.

[Lil'freeper]

Satellite image that suggests there's no intelligent life on Mars.

[Truth666]

Moore could actually be one of the 3000 lucky guys ...
28/09/2004 - Aviation magnate Branson announced that his new Virgin Galactic venture aimed to send 3 000 new astronauts into space within the next five years.