Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Update Thread

[portercc]

You have to look at the jpeg 2000. There are too many deep "tributaries" coming off or leading to main chasm.<br />

 

[MeteorWayne]

OK, I'll give it a try, thanx. <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>

 

[abq_farside]

Not sure if this shows it, but here are 3 images of roughly the same area, with top being the starting point, the 2nd being zoomed above what appears to be a crater and the 3rd zooming little left and below center of the 2nd.<br />It appears the dust trails are something else - but again from an untrained eye.<br /><br />In any event, the jpeg 2000 is really something to play around with. The detail it can bring out is truly remarkable considering where it was taken from. <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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Interesting. On the larger scale image, you can clearly see that some linear features are likely dust devil tracks, especially toward the top of the image.<br /><br />However the closeups certainly show some smaller scale features that doesn't apply to. Some look like shadows due to the sun angle (I think from the upper left in the crater closeups.) even if they are, the question remains where did the ridges that cause the shadows come from. Could be a wind driven rearrangement I guess. There are also features that don't seem as likely to create shadows, so something looks dark.<br /><br />But there are a number of features that sure as heck, to the untrained eye <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> , look like liquid drainage channels. Any idea of the scale of the last blowup? <br /><br />Just great, now I'm going to spend an hour looking at these things when I should be doing my taxes <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br /><br /> <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>

 

[portercc]

Nice work farside. We'll convince those dust devilers!<br /><br />MWayne - I look at the 2000 image everyday, it will keep you from getting things done. I hope they choose that area for further observation and exploration.

 

[portercc]

See if this helps.

 

[franontanaya]

Sorry for going back in time to March 28 release, but I'm intrigued on one of the proposed MSL landing site images. <br />Check the dark craters in the image viewer:<br /><br />http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/HiRISE/hirise_images/PSP/orb_002800/PSP_002832_1770/<br /><br />Inside those two dark spots there is very dark sand mixed with light sand in Victoria-crater-like dunes. If it was only dust, either it's recent or the wind should have mixed it already... shouldn't it? <br /><br />Edit: Btw, there are some nice sand streaks at the long landform at the bottom of the image. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

I'm guessing this is one of the craters you refer to. It's location is marked by the <br />tiny red square in the full image on the right. Yes it is interesting that there is<br />dark material that has not been covered by dust or mixed in with the lighter<br />material in the area. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

And here's the other one, if anyone want's to guess at what <br />the explaination for the dark material is. I think it's loose material<br />that has collected in the crater and not evidence of a dark layer <br />beneath the surface that the crater has exposed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

You're absolutely right, i would say it is loose material that have gathered and got trapped inside the crater. I do not think it is material that has been exposed under the top layer.<br /><br />Its dust that has eroded off the black volcanic rocks, and then settled in these spots.<br /><br />I must say, this forum topic is astounding, the people contributing and adding stuff are doing a great job. I've been a lurker here for some time reading and looking at the images. MRO is unbelievable. <br /><br />Which is great, because i am a little unhappy at ESA. I feel their public relations, ie, image release policy for Mars Express is very unfriendly regarding letting the public see what it has gathered. It is very frustrating when you see the ratio of ESA released images when compared to any NASA mission of late. Plus i feel they squander much image quality on producing that 3D effect. The B&W images, and colour without a fuzzy green and red edging are stunning.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

This is a MRO thread, not an ESA bashing one. But since you brought it up please note the following:<br /><br />ESA is entitled to spend it much more limited PR budget any way its wishes.<br /><br />The greatest scientific value of the HRSC system is its ability to produce stereo images.<br /><br />Therefore it is entirely appropirate for them to focus their limited PR budget on the best of these.<br /><br />Now, please return to MRO related topics. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><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>

 

[anthmartian]

Ok, i shall keep away from mentioning anything other than MRO in future. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I do tend to join up what i see as related subject matter, i am quite new here, was just doing what i've always done at other sites. <br /><br />I did not see one short paragraph at the end of my post, in addition to passing on thanks to the members here, regarding posts in this thread as going off topic<br /><br />really sorry if i caused offence. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[portercc]

Hi Anth - by now everyone know the area of Mars I would like to see explored.<br />I've been keeping an eye on your posts too, you have done some incredible work on New Horizons pics. What software are you using?<br />I am of the belief that everyone is too slow in their release of information.<br />I am in the midst (I'm right) of a discussion concerning what appears to some as dust devil trails. If you magnify a jpg 2000 to its limit, can you sharpen it any more?<br />

 

[anthmartian]

Portercc : Hi. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />If you send me the image or section of it, i'll take a look. I've been playing around with the image you posted on the previous page. I have brought out quite a bit of detail, i would like a go at a high res high quality view. As you can see below, i was able to bring out some details, but i'm sure this is not the most zoomed in view.<br /><br />They certainly look like tracks at first glance, but the more detail you uncover, the less they look like tracks. If i had to make a guess, i'd go with a network of ditches, or streams? One possibility, is just plain cracks in the surface?<br /><br />The software i use is Registax, and photoshop. I was just amazed at how Registax brought out detail on amateur astro images, so i thought why not use it on images from unmanned probes such as New Horizons.<br /><br />It should certainly bring out details on these high quality MRO pictures. Hopefully shedding new light and solving a few mysteries. <br /><br />What specs should a PC have ideally before anybody should attempt to open one of those jpeg 2000 images? I would like to have a look, but am a bit worried that my PC could not handle it. <br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Thanks Anthmartian!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Some of those streaks are from dust devils for sure, but some of the larger ones looks like dried up & cracked mud beds at the bottom of a dried up lake & dried up drainage channels?????<br /><br />http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth <br /><br />Very interesting indeed.<br /><br />Andrew Brown.<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>

 

[anthmartian]

NP Andrew <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I think the kind of gentle arching streaks are dust devil tracks. Other markings could well be cracks in my opinion, however some do take of the form of tributaries. One "crack" seems to cut through that small cliff side? centre and towards the bottom of the image. Which opens up the possibility that the cracks formed, then the land slumped!?<br /><br />In that image you can see numerous places where the eye can trace and follow a crack ( or whatever it may be ) which has been seperated by a ledge or other obstacle. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi Anthmartian.<br /><br />This area has clearly seen history involving water at some stage. Much of the ground still looks like dried mud IMO.<br />=====================================================================================================================<br /><br />Below is the Russell Crater situated about 55 degrees south, 13 degrees east where Spring is taking hold. The dunes are slowly defrosting.<br /><br />Russell Crater dunes defrosting from CRISM.<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]

MRO has imaged the so called Face on Mars in Cydonia, with HiRISE. As expected, it is a natural mesa, heavily eroded, with boulders.<br /><br />No hint of any artificiality at all, but no doubt conspiracists & other people who are scientifically illiterate will believe otherwise!!!!<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]

HiRISE release: no 22.<br /><br />Quite like this one of layers on Terby Crater floor.<br /><br />Wednesday 18th April 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>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">As expected, it is a natural mesa, heavily eroded, with boulders.</font>/i><br /><br />What might be an interesting exercise (or maybe its been done), is to generate elevation data from the mesa, map it into a 3-D computer model, and then light it from different directions and elevations. Then light it from the same direction as "the face" photo, and take a snapshot. Then reduce the snapshot down to the same pixel resolution as the original "face" photo. Do you get the something similar?</i>

 

[3488]

I do not know if this has been done or not? Mind you, the original Viking 1 orbital image of this feature is of such low resolution, hence all the crackpot theories about it since.<br /><br />The ESA Mars Express has imaged this thing several times using the HRSC.<br /><br />This feature is certainly using in proportion more research time than many other, more interesting features on Mars IMO.<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>

 

[portercc]

Hi Anthmartian - been out of town so I could not respond. I don't have a special computer, but I do save the 2000 image to a 4 gb flashdrive...it takes a while to download.<br />Respectfully, I still believe very few, if any are dust devils. You image clearly shows tributaries leading into/out of larger feature. The 2000 shows more. Interesting region.

 

[abq_farside]

Agreed about the dust devils + bump <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>

 

[3488]

HiRISE release: no 23.<br /><br />Quite like this one: Craters on South Polar Layered Deposits.<br /><br />Thursday 26th April 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>

 

[abq_farside]

Interesting image. I am downloading the j2000 image of that region now. It looks very interesting. <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>