Interesting rock, imaged by Opportunity rover near Endurance Crater

[Smersh]

<p>Here's a blowup of a photo taken on Sol 115, on May 21st, 2004:</p><p><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/7/0c9ba9a0-aa79-4310-a7be-c5a78b84b566.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p><p>The original panororama this was taken from on the NASA site is <strong>here.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>It is from this page of panoramas <strong>here.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how this rock formation could have formed. Thanks.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1><p><font color="#800000"><em>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."<br />Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."</em></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Website / forums </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[abq_farside]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#999999">Here's a blowup of a photo taken on Sol 115, on May 21st, 2004: The original panororama this was taken from on the NASA site is here.&nbsp;It is from this page of panoramas here.&nbsp;Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how this rock formation could have formed.</font> <font color="#999999">Thanks.</font>&nbsp; <br /><strong>Posted by Smersh</strong></DIV><br /><br />You mean the fossilized piece of timber at the top of the picture? [wink]</p><p>Very interesting image - I will have to take a look at the original image so I can see a bigger view of it.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em><font size="1" color="#000080">Don't let who you are keep you from becoming who you want to be!</font></em></p> </div>

 

[Smersh]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#993300">You mean the fossilized piece of timber at the top of the picture? [wink <br /> Posted by abq_farside</font></DIV></p><p>Well, I didn't dare say that, but well, yah know ... [wink]&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1><p><font color="#800000"><em>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."<br />Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."</em></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Website / forums </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[abq_farside]

<p>Here is it blown up from this <font color="#0000ff">image</font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/7/bc353c1d-459a-4884-87a7-5d006ceaf9be.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em><font size="1" color="#000080">Don't let who you are keep you from becoming who you want to be!</font></em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

<p>Very interesting and does at least look like a piece of wood. There could be some geological reason for rocks to get like this...there is the possibility however remote, that it could be something other than rock.</p><p>Thats what has made Mars so fascinating and why we should eventually send humans. Even hard nosed scientists recognize that mars might still have harbored some kind of life in its past. Current theory would seem to rule out something as advanced as trees ever developing on Mars. But in science, theories change if new evidence comes to light.</p><p>Most of the time when these types of images are posted in what was "Phenomenon"...the poster fails to source the image. In this case, something unexplained thus far is posted, and properly sourced. My hats off to the OP for sourcing the image.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[robnissen]

<font size="3">Actually, that is a post left over from one of the docks that was in the dried lake behind it. &nbsp; Hopefully, Jon Clarke will chime in and discuss non-biological sources for that rock.&nbsp; (As much as I would love for it to be petrified wood, I don't think that will be happenin'.)</font>

 

[Smersh]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Here is it blown up from this image&nbsp; <br /> Posted by abq_farside</DIV></p><p>Thanks and sorry I posted a link to the 3D image by mistake in the OP. If anyone is any good at colouring the image, I wonder what that would look like?</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1><p><font color="#800000"><em>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."<br />Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."</em></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Website / forums </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[freya]

<p>What are the dimensions?</p><p>Great pictures. Never cease to surprise.</p><p>&nbsp;Gaz</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#666699">Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how this rock formation could have formed. Thanks.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by Smersh</font></DIV><br />I think the piece of "timber" is composed of exactly the same layered rock as the flat slabs in front of it.&nbsp; The difference is that only the top surface of the slabs in the foreground is visible while the slab in the back is tilted up, exposing the layering of its edge. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lildreamer]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I think the piece of "timber" is composed of exactly the same layered rock as the flat slabs in front of it.&nbsp; The difference is that only the top surface of the slabs in the foreground is visible while the slab in the back is tilted up, exposing the layering of its edge. <br />Posted by centsworth_II</DIV></p><p>seems like a logical explanation....</p><p>If you zoom on in the image you can see that the rover drove over the item. Notice the tracks in the back and front of it...must have a few off road enthusiast at the helm </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Thanks and sorry I posted a link to the 3D image by mistake in the OP. If anyone is any good at colouring the image, I wonder what that would look like?&nbsp; <br />Posted by Smersh</DIV></p><p>Smersh, since this image was taken by the navcam, color composites are not possible. I searched for a view of this object taken by the pancam (which might allow a color composite), but could not find it.</p><p>Sorry,&nbsp;but if anyone can find&nbsp;pancam color filter images for this object I'd be glad to&nbsp;make a composite.&nbsp;<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"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."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>