Images of Mars -- Part Three

Swampcat · Feb 25, 2006

Spirit Sol 760 (L4, L5 & L6 filters) Full size image (724x724, 190kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Feb 25, 2006

Spirit Sol 749 (L2, L5 & L7 filters) Full size image (4016x1681, 974kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

telfrow · Feb 26, 2006

Ausonia Mensa massif These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, show the Ausonia Mensa massif on Mars. The HRSC obtained these images during orbit 506 with a ground resolution of approximately 37.6 metres per pixel. The scenes show the region of Hesperia Planum, containing the massif, at approximately 30.3° South and 97.8° East. North is to the right in these images. Ausonia Mensa is a large remnant mountain with several impact craters, rising above basaltic sheet layers. The mountain stretches over an area of about 98 kilometres by 48 kilometres and has an elevation of 3700 metres. Link to Full Story and Additional Photos <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild. - Tennyson </div>

bonzelite · Feb 26, 2006

perhaps Mars, which lacks the many moderating mechanisms Earth has for stabilizing temperatures is much more prone to very wide atmospheric temperature and pressure fluctuations - given the right conditions. ^^^this is a good idea. in other words, because there is so "little" there at mars to work with, so to speak, change that does happen may come off as all the more drastic in effect on the surface. this may be why throughout it's geologic history of fossilization structures (the inorganic ones that we can see from orbit and from on the ground), there seems to be high likelihood for catastrophism.

Swampcat · Feb 28, 2006

I would like to add my personal appreciation to those who comment on what is seen in these images. I am certainly no areologist, but ever since the MERs returned their first images I have been fascinated by the landscape and how Mars came to be what it is today. It is the discussion of what these images show that rounds out the purely visual enjoyment I get from viewing them. Thank y'all. So here's another one... Spirit, Sol 764 (L4, L5 & L6) Full size image (1024x1024, 235kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Feb 28, 2006

Oppy, Sol 743 (L4, L5 & L6 filters) Full size image (1024x1024, 186kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Feb 28, 2006

An anaglyph of the above (Mogollon Cliff?). Full size image (987x989, 855kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Mar 2, 2006

Spirit, Sol 767 (L2, L5 & L7 filters) Full size image (6200x1294, 1023kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Swampcat · Mar 3, 2006

Oppy, Sol 744 (L2, L5 & L7 filters) Full size image (4411x1021, 768kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

bonzelite · Mar 3, 2006

^^^that's a neat-o image. beautiful. how high is that cliff rise approximately? what is the scale here that we're seeing?

Swampcat · Mar 3, 2006

"how high is that cliff rise approximately? what is the scale here that we're seeing?" Found this from The Planetary Society website: <center> "Although it is only about a half meter in height, 'it looks like a humongous cliff,' says Joy Crisp, MER project scientist at JPL."/center> I'm having a little trouble figuring out JPL's naming of these features, but apparently this formation is called "Payson." </center> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

bonzelite · Mar 4, 2006

got it. it's more like a tall step, then. just wanted to know. thanks much <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

Swampcat · Mar 4, 2006

"thanks much" My pleasure. <hr /> Here's another view of Home Plate from a different angle from Sol 768 (L2, L5 & L7 filters) Full size image (4555x1279, 760kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

JonClarke · Mar 5, 2006

It's a great image Telfrow. Three points of interest on the mesa are: 1) The material filling a large crater. Possibly snow or ice?? Some other features in and round Hellas, including Dao Vallis are possibly ice rich as well. The same crater has channel leading out of it and bebouching onto the plain. There is no sign of a fan and this has therefore either been removed or buried. The runoff drainage network in a valley on one side of the mesa, almost certainly the result of rainfall or snow melt. Such valley networks are thought to be quite old, and are found only in the Noachian terrain of Mars. Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

exoscientist · Mar 5, 2006

Jon, if Home Plate is indeed a maar then the valley on one side may be a flowing water cut channel that are frequently seen with maars. See for example the second image from this page: Coliseum Maar, Hopi Buttes, Arizona. http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/coliseum_maar.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

exoscientist · Mar 5, 2006

I don't know if we are referring to the same channel Jon, but the one I mean is barely visible on the right side of Home Plate in the image here: Rover Team Decides: Safety First. http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20060301a.html The channel was discussed on the MarkCarey.com/mars forum: Spirit atop Homeplate. http://www.markcarey.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-view.cgi/18/entry/32959/discussion_page?start=68&show=20 Bob Clark <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

telfrow · Mar 5, 2006

Another interesting photo from the HRSC on Mars Express: Eastern scarp of Olympus Mons Link <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild. - Tennyson </div>

centsworth_II · Mar 5, 2006

"I don't know if we are referring to the same channel Jon..." -- exoscientist I am sure -- I hope -- Jon was referring to channels in the satellite image of Ausonia Mensa massif shown several posts back and NOT to any evidence of running water on Home Plate. I was confused myself when I saw Jon's remarks beneath an image of Home Plate, talking about snow, ice, and channels. I thought his user name had been hijacked or he was playing an early April fool joke until I realized that he was NOT referring to Home Plate. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

telfrow · Mar 5, 2006

That one is my fault, I'm afraid. I inserted the Mars Express image in the middle of a discussion of home plate. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused, but I thought the mesa image (and the Mons eastern slope image) were interesting. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild. - Tennyson </div>

rlb2 · Mar 5, 2006

Post deleted by rlb2 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

JonClarke · Mar 5, 2006

As you pointed out several years ago, maar seem rare on Mars. Nobody knows why. Maybe absence of shallow groundwater (as opposed to ice) is a reason. I am sceptical that home plate is a maar. Crater fills deposits I have seen are much coarser and much moor poorly sorted than the the sediments of Home Plate. They may still be volcanic, but do look much for distal to me. As thgis stage I suspect Home Plate is an example of inverted relief of an impact crater fill. We have seen lots of these in orbiter images. Nice photo BTW. Have we seen both sides of Home Plate yet? Do we know that the sediments actually do dip centripetally, and not just on one side? Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

JonClarke · Mar 5, 2006

April Fool? It's not even April yet! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Yes, I assumed that mentioning Telfrow's image would be enough to indicate I was talking about Ausonia Mensa, but obviously not. I don't see as yet any conclusive evidence for water forming the sediments of Home Plate as yet, or the Home Plate feature itself. Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

exoscientist · Mar 6, 2006

I may have to make a correction here. Reading the text on that update it seems the "valley" they are referring to is parallel to the sides of Home Plate, like another rim, and not like a channel running out of the depression: "In addition to studying numerous images from Spirit's cameras, team members studied three-dimensional models created with images from the Mars Orbiter Camera on NASA's Mars Globel Surveyor orbiter. The models showed a valley on the southern side of Home Plate, the slopes of which might cause the rover's solar panels to lose power for unknown lengths of time." Bob Clark <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

centsworth_II · Mar 6, 2006

"Have we seen both sides of Home Plate yet?" No. Spirit arrived at the Northwest corner and has traveled around the North side to the Northeast corner. The look of the South, Southwest, and Southeast sides is totally unknown. Not to mention a good look at Pitcher's Mound. That's why I would like to see Spirit go back after wintering on McCool Hill. But what do I know? Maybe they will feel they have enough information to understand the area based on what they have seen so far and what they will see in the next week. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Swampcat · Mar 11, 2006

Spirit, Sol 773 (L4, L5 & L6 filters) Full size image (1024x1024, 242kb) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."Thomas Jefferson </div>

Images of Mars -- Part Three

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