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Panoramic Mars image from Spirit rover -- wow.
SpaceRef ^ | 10/10/2004 | NASA/JPL

Posted on 10/12/2004 10:27:04 AM PDT by cogitator

Click article link for article, and link to big image (0.5 MB).

Text:

This stunning image mosaic of the "Columbia Hills" is the first 360-degree panorama taken since the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit arrived at the hills over a month ago. The rover has been busy studying the rocks here, which show evidence of past alteration by water. The dark patch of soil to the right is the spot where Spirit stopped for engineering work on its right front wheel. Spirit's tracks can be followed from there all the way back to "Bonneville Crater" and the original landing site, more than 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) away.

This approximate true-color image, nicknamed the "Cahokia panorama" after the Native American archaeological site near St. Louis, was acquired between sols 213 to 223 (Aug. 9 to 19, 2004). The panorama consists of 470 images acquired through six panoramic camera filters (750 to 480 nanometers). It took until the week of sol 237 (Sept. 2) to downlink all the data back to Earth. Several more weeks of image processing and geometric mapping by team members at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., to stitch all the images together into this spectacular mosaic.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: columbia; hills; mars; plains; rocks; rover; spirit
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Now, if this was just some hills in Algeria, it might not be so impressive... but it's Mars, after all.
1 posted on 10/12/2004 10:27:04 AM PDT by cogitator
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To: cogitator

The climate on Mars is getting gradually hotter, and the ice caps are receding somewhat. So, if we have any hope of preserving Mars for our children we HAVE to stop the martians from driving SUVs and emitting CFCs into the air that cause global warming.


2 posted on 10/12/2004 10:30:49 AM PDT by mike182d
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To: cogitator

Looks like Odessa, TX.


3 posted on 10/12/2004 10:32:22 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan
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To: cogitator

I've seen spots like that in California's Mojave Desert.

Dan


4 posted on 10/12/2004 10:32:56 AM PDT by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: cogitator
Another Pitcure...
5 posted on 10/12/2004 10:36:30 AM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature
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To: cogitator

I'd say WOW pretty much covers it.


6 posted on 10/12/2004 10:38:30 AM PDT by MattGarrett
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To: mike182d

Yeah, look at all those ATV tracks in the distance. Damn kids! They're going to ruin Mars, too!


7 posted on 10/12/2004 10:42:42 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves
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To: cogitator

Nice pic.


8 posted on 10/12/2004 10:43:38 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer
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To: K4Harty

Looks like a typical Atlanta suburb, red clay and all.


9 posted on 10/12/2004 10:43:38 AM PDT by AngryJawa (Happiness Is A Silent Blissninny)
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To: cogitator

10 posted on 10/12/2004 10:52:40 AM PDT by New Perspective (Proud father of a 8 month old son with Down Syndrome)
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To: mike182d

Awesome pix! Thanks for posting this.


11 posted on 10/12/2004 10:53:06 AM PDT by upchuck (Pajamas? I don' need no steenking pajamas!!)
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click for pic
12 posted on 10/12/2004 10:54:21 AM PDT by Hanging Chad
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To: cogitator

Looks like fall....


13 posted on 10/12/2004 10:55:10 AM PDT by tje
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To: cogitator

It is quite obvious from this picture that
mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids.


14 posted on 10/12/2004 11:00:52 AM PDT by Hanging Chad
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To: Hanging Chad

I hear it's cold as hell.


15 posted on 10/12/2004 11:06:35 AM PDT by Wacka
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To: Wacka

And there's no one there to raise them if you did.


16 posted on 10/12/2004 11:13:29 AM PDT by BenLurkin (We have low inflation and and low unemployment.)
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To: cogitator
"Now, if this was just some hills in Algeria, it might not be so impressive... but it's Mars, after all."

hmmmm....I could be wrong, but it doesn't look like Mars is ever going to be a hot tourist destination. Maybe if they legalize gambling?
17 posted on 10/12/2004 11:19:34 AM PDT by monday
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To: BenLurkin

It's just my job five days a week.


18 posted on 10/12/2004 11:21:34 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (President Kerry - - there, scared ya didn't I?)
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To: cogitator

I hope those are rover tracks on the far right hand of the image. (grin)


19 posted on 10/12/2004 11:22:15 AM PDT by tang-soo (Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks - Read Daniel Chapter 9)
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To: BenLurkin

Is this where the chorus go's "A Rocket Mannnnnn" or sum such, or is that later?


20 posted on 10/12/2004 11:22:19 AM PDT by monday
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