Interesting features in Hirise pic.

[h9c2]

I was wondering what people make of this particular feature. To my untrained eye, I must admit that it looks like a lake. There are many more similar features. <br /><br />Edit: With the size taken into account, it is more of a big puddle <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /><br />It is in the upper right corner of this image:<br />http://hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/PSP/diafotizo.php?ID=PSP_002812_1855

 

[MeteorWayne]

It does look like one, doesn't it! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Note the caption on the photo: <font color="yellow">Proposed MSL Site in Southwest Arabia Terra</font> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[3488]

Perhaps on a future pass, the CRISM instrument could look at it, to check it for hydrated materials. <br /><br />Probably, it is fine dust, but yes, it does look like a puddle.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Thanx for pointing that out, I missed it! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[h9c2]

I agree that the likelyhood of it being water is relatively low. Yet the high contrast between it and its surroundings make this feature stand out. If it was very fine dust accounting for the smooth appearance, You'd expect to find it around the feature too.

 

[centsworth_II]

Another interesting feature, about a third of the way from the top of the same MRO <br />image. The light strip jutting into the dark shape makes it even more intriguing. <br />The shadows of surrounding hillocks are just as dark, so it's not the darkness that<br />is unusual, but the "look" of darkness on a flat surface. The only other possibility <br />is a hole. It would have to be a deep hole, with steep sides, I would think, to be <br />that uniformly dark from side to side. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[h9c2]

The picture is riddled with these spots. I thought about it being a hole, but I can't really justify that with the sun being at about 35 degrees over the horizon. You'd see some of the eastern wall of the hole. (If it is like a tunnel going down.)<br />The only way it would work is if it is a small opening in a larger shallow cave. <br /><br />I guess it could also be a very dark, uniform underlying layer.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Interesting, that one's got a bright vertical (on the image) line in it. My mind is rotating geometric shapes to find a fit....without success, so far <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[vandivx]

the dark spots in the first picture seem to be sinkholes that filled with liquid, if you look with magnifying glass at your screen you can just discern fairly steep slope 'walls' ending in the black which could be some liquid that seeped in, could have caved in because of the liquid underneath in the first place<br /><br />both pictures are studded with numerous smaller such 'holes' especially the second one which is full of them<br /><br />that dark spot here is a bit more puzzling as the whole picture looks like a picture of a slope which is disorienting and would speak against the dark spots having to do anything with liquid, nonetheless one can also just discern steep 'short' wall ending in the black, the wall is visible as lighter terrain surrounding the hole and it goes around only part way because we are not looking at it directly overhead but a bit from the left side so that we see the slopes only on the right side, starting from that light streak jutting into the black<br /><br />the smaller holes in that second picture look like vents, like when you boil your porridge for breakfast <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />vanDivX <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[generic_man]

They're standing bodies of liquid. This is what a Standing Body looks like from orbit on any planet. Titan and Earth have similar features. If they are Collapsed Holes or Pits, then they are of anomalous depth to the extreme because the shadows do not match. As well there are no Ramparts around them the create requisite shadows. They are standing bodies of liquid. It doesn't take much to figure that out. <br /><br />The only strong alternative explanation is of course the deeper Regolith is exposed and is very dark. But that seems very reaching. They ought to bounce some Radar off them to confirm a uniform surface, as they have at Titan. The equipment is online and available for that. <br /><br />

 

[3488]

Big problem with standing bodies of liquid on Mars, is that the average density of the Martian atmosphere at the Datum line, is the same as the density of Earth's atmosphere is at an altitude of 30 kilometres / 19 miles above sea leval, (about four times the altitude of the summit of Mount Everest above sea level). No to mention the extreme cold. <br /><br />Unless it is extremely saline or at near freezing point at that density, standing bodies of liquid has to be ruled out.<br /><br />Yes, it does look like a puddle, but it is far more likely, super fine dust, which generally will find its own level, just like a liquid.<br /><br />This must be followed through.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Crop of the "lake." <br /><br />There seems to be some detail in the shadow. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[h9c2]

I got a high resolution crop from the people at hiroc. Very nice of them to be so responsive to the public!<br /><br />Anyway, here's the pic. It's not a liquid, but remains very interesting. It goes to show that in order to interpret any pic, you must look at the highest resolution available...

 

[telfrow]

Thanks. <br /><br />I'm still trying to download the JPEG2000 file. <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[3488]

Thank you both very much to telfrow & H9C2.<br /><br />Your images confirm what I have already said. <br /><br />True, it is still VERY INTERESTING. What created these 'pot holes' & dust traps in the first place??? <br /><br />I would still recommend the CRISM instrument to still look.<br /><br />The dust is extremely dark. Volcanic ash????<br /><br />BTW, who did you contact H9C2? I too would like to ask them a few requests. Through the normal JPL channels (as I had done with Galileo, Cassini, MERs) or do they have their own contact point???<br /><br />Andrew Brown.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[h9c2]

A couple of duplicate PM's sent.

 

[3488]

Thank you very much.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Slightly off topic, I suppose, but has anyone tried to download one of recommended the JPEG2000 viewers and one of the JPEG2000 files? I'm having absolutely no luck with either one of them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi telfrow. <br /><br />Not really off topic IMO.<br /><br />I have had no luck what so ever. Whenever I try, it just crashes.<br /><br />So no, it is not just you. Blooming frustrating though, there is much I would like to see with the JPEG2000 viewers.<br /><br />I wonder also if other SDC members have more luck??<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[h9c2]

I have tried irfanview and photoshop both with the jpeg2000 plugins. No luck so far. OpenEV, no go as well. Amount of ram could be an issue. <br /><br />Looks like this browser plugin will open the file.<br /><br />http://www.lizardtech.com/download/dl_download.php?detail=geo_expressview_plugin&platform=win<br /><br />You'll have to specifically allow active content.<br /><br />

 

[exoscientist]

Telfrow, Openev is a freeware program that can open and display these large files in the new JPEG2000 format. <br />Download it here: <br /><br />FWTools: Open Source GIS Binary Kit for Windows and Linux. <br />http://fwtools.maptools.org/ <br /><br /> Install the full FWTools not just Openev to get it to work. It is pretty fast and does not require overly large amounts of RAM. I have two PC's one with 500 Mbytes RAm, the other with 256 Mbytes and does work on both. However, I noticed with the very largest images, above 300 Mbyes on the computer with the lower ram, 256 Mbytes, it freezes or perhaps it's going so slowly it looks like it's stopped.<br /> It is not overly user friendly however. It took several tries to get it to crop a portion of the image. <br /><br /><br /> Bob Clark <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Thanks guys. I'll give those options a shot... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[exoscientist]

H9C2, did you install the full FWtools, not just Openev?<br /><br />FWTools: Open Source GIS Binary Kit for Windows and Linux. <br />http://fwtools.maptools.org/ <br /><br /><br /> Bob Clark <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[alkalin]

Looks a bit like a lava flow to me due to its color and wrinkled surface.