Mars Cave..something suspicious?

[forevera]

Please explain why you think there is something suspious there.

 

[3488]

Seven newly found 'skylights' found on Arsia Mons.<br /><br />Temperatue profile of one skylight.<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>

 

[michaelmozina]

The temperature profiles sure seem to suggest it's a cave opening rather than a pit. <br /><br />One thing that stuck me while looking at the images is the fact that the two holes that are seen in the larger image are roughly aligned with a whole "string" of meteorite hits. It made me wonder if the holes in the ground might have come from a meteorite striking a "thin" surface area near a lava tube/cavern. Rather than the material blowing out onto the surface like a normal meteorite hit, it punched through the roof of the lava cavern and the material fell down into the hole. <br /><br />Then again, maybe Mars just has a very big gofer problem. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />This is a very interesting thread by the way. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> It seems to be a natural consequence of our points of view to assume that the whole of space is filled with electrons and flying electric ions of all kinds. - Kristian Birkeland </div>

 

[3488]

Hi all,<br /><br />NASA / JPL Planetary Photojournal articles on this topic.<br /><br /> PIA09929 & PIA09930. <br /><br />Spaceflightnow.com.<br /><br />Mars Odyssey.<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>

 

[paulscottanderson]

That's right. This new press release is about the same seven holes already discovered and discussed before, not new ones. There was mention of the temperature profiles before also, but I'd have to find the reference again.<br /><br />Paul <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="1"><span style="font-weight:bold" class="Apple-style-span">-----------------</span></font></p><p><font size="1"><span style="font-weight:bold" class="Apple-style-span">The Meridiani Journal</span><br />a chronicle of planetary exploration<br />web.me.com/meridianijournal</font> </p> </div>

 

[franontanaya]

Found this interesting graphic at Wikipedia about Hawaiian volcanoes and vents:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kilauea_1997_cutaway.gif<br /><br />And this image at flickr of one of the vents:<br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/vwelch/757855738/in/photostream/<br /><br />I believe we didn't see an intermediate state between the caves and the nearby collapsed pits. Maybe the caves are vents and the pits a collapse of the lava stream that feeded the vents... now I really wish I knew anything about geology.<br /><br />There's that photo where one of the caves stands right near a collapse pit, as if its walls were hardened. Maybe we could look for traces left by different levels of magma on the walls of the caves. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

My does it freak you out? Why do you get a bad feeling? Please be specific.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>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</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[3488]

I too am a bit perplexed as to why this hole freaks Denger out.<br /><br />AFAIK, the slopes of Arsia Mons are in full sunlight & are very bright in relation to the dark<br />hole, where sunlight is not reaching very far.<br /><br />If you see FranOntanaya's excellent images, this make perfect sense. The hole looks<br />perfectly ok to me, the enigma is not so much its appearance, rather its nature & origin.<br /><br />I am still of the opinion, that it is a sky light to a lava tube. Some holes, appear to be pits, also see FranOntanaya's image of said pit, with boulders & rocks at the bottom.<br /><br />(Sorry just realised, images are not visible right now. I will link to FranOntanaya's images later<br />when I am at home). <br /><br />Clearly these have something to do with the 'plumbing' of the giant volcano Arsia Mons, how magma<br />was fed & or drained, with parts <br />of this 'plumbing' collapsing now, possibly due to Marsquakes & / or meteor impacts.<br /><br />I see something here that is absolutely fascinating (would say that, I am a bit of a <br />volcano head), but not necessarily strange or eerie. On Mars, features can grow to <br />collosal sizes due to the 38% surface gravity & Mars's much thicker crust<br />(If any of the Tharsis Volcanoes were moved to Earth, they would sink into the mantle).<br /><br />The Tharsis Volcanoes, of which Arsia Mons is the southernmost one, are 'hot spot' volcanoes.<br /><br />They formed above magmatic hot spots in Mars's mantle, burning through the crust, <br />forming these huge mountains. On Earth, we have plate tectonics, so we do not <br />have volcanoes of these sizes, as the plate moves over the hot spot, look at Hawaii, Galapagos Islands, <br />chain of extinct calderas leading to Yellowstone, etc.<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Please correct me Jon, if I have gone wrong here.<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>

 

[JonClarke]

You've pretty well said it all, Andrew.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>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</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thank you very much Jon,<br /><br />I just need to be more confident in myself I guess.<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>

 

[3488]

As promised, I have supplied the links to FranOntanaya's images,<br />which have turned into paperclips on this thread <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /> .<br /><br /><font color="yellow">FranOntanaya 1.</font>Possible skylight with view of sunlit wall. IMO definately a<br />lava tube skylight.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">FranOntanaya 2.</font>a target="_blank" href=http://img441.imageshack.us/my.php?image=arsiamons100metrewidepigb4.jpg> Another, possibly similar pit. Note the dark <br />area at the nine o'clock position. Possibly an opening into a lava tube below?? <br /><br />It was a good job I downloaded & saved them.<br /><br />Hopefully soon, we will get a better view of the top skylight, as Mars approaches the equinox<br />& the sun shines deeper down, possibly onto the floor.<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>

 

[CalliArcale]

FYI, spaceadmin says that previously posted images will be restored soon. <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

huzzzah! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

That is good news. Thanks CalliArcale.<br /><br />In that case, I can see another of my image threads coming up. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><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>

 

[exoscientist]

Surely you remember the scene in the original "Stars Wars" where a cave in an asteroid the Millennium Falcon flew into tuned out to be an opening to a space creatures innards.<br /><br /> Bob Clark <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

The title almost made the thread Phenomena fodder <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />but fortunately people has stayed on the right side of wacky for the most part.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>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</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[exoscientist]

Dengar, in your signature line I thought I was reading a line from "The Matrix" for a minute there.<br /><br /><br /> - Bob Clark ;-) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

Chain of Pits on Arsia Mons.<br /><br />My pathetic blow up of the tiny collapsed pit in the centre of the above featured image.<br /><br />MRO HiRISE.<br /><br />Wednesday 3rd October 2007.<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>

 

[3488]

Finally got the viewer to work.<br /><br />This is a much better view of the small pit shown above on Arsia Mons.<br /><br />Here is the top left of that same pit.<br /><br />MRO HiRISE. <br /><br />Wednesday 3rd October 2007. <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>

 

[JonClarke]

Very nice collapse feature!<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>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</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[neilsox]

<p>I assume&nbsp;the 7 (are there more candidates?) have diameters exceeding 20 meters as someone reported&nbsp;the camera resoution was about 20 feet. The unusually sharp images may be an artifact&nbsp;of the low resolution&nbsp;and computer removal of the sawtooth edges, The only lava I have seen was&nbsp;as black as coal, so that (and the low resolution)&nbsp;could account for the lack of grey at the edges.</p><p>How big are the largest and longest lava tubes&nbsp;found on Earth? I'd guess 60 miles = 100 kilometers is possible, if the lava surged in and out many times at the optimum rste. 100 kilometers below the average Mars elevation likely provides enough pressure for humans to breath oxygen far below the surface of Mars. My guess is deeper is necessary below the surface of Earth's Moon due to the 1/6 g gravity. Likely neither&nbsp;Mars nor moon are too hot (with modest heat removal) 100 kilometers below the surface.&nbsp;&nbsp; Neil</p>