J
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JonClarke":2b2rkid0 said:That certainly looks like a meteorite.
Jon
Hi Jon & Wayne,MeteorWayne":2b2rkid0 said:Me too! WOuldn't have wanted to be under that when it hit! It probably weighs several hundred kg.
That's a very interesting point Jon, if there are whole different types of meteorites on Mars than on Earth. The one Oppy is currently analysing, certainly looks like an iron meteorite. Will be interesting when the APXS & Mossbauer (I assume the Mossbauer is still working) data is returned. Obviously the RAT cannot be used on it as it is far too hord & will quickly render the RAT useless. Spirit's got worn down by the hard volcanic basalts in Gusev crater, but this would be even harder.JonClarke":3v2xqnh5 said:One side looks rounded, the other very rough. Did it break up in mid air, or on impact? Or this this flight asymmetry?
The ease wih which meteroites are being found on Mars in the right terrain is interesting. A few years ago I was involved with a study of a Mars polar station, part of the scientific rationale was that Mars would "sample" a different meteroiet population to earth and so meteorite classes rare on earth might be common there and there may be whole new categories present. Not that you would send a mission to Mars just for meteorites, but if you were theye you would certainly study them. From the Opportunity experience you would not need to go to the poles.
Jon
It certainly will be Wayne. To me it definitely looks like a mosaic is being composed.MeteorWayne":2b85m3wa said:This ought to make some mosaic when they are done!
Not so fast :lol:MarkStanaway":x98jc5gc said:....To think of the possibilities if only that were true!!!
That is because they are being operated by real human geologists. Of themselves the rovers are not more geologists than a microwave oven is a chef.MeteorWayne":7y8nmjkk said:Realistically, and I hate to make a bad pun (In truth, I don't; I'm a very punny guy), since both rovers have outlived their design lives by ~ 25 times, targets of "opportunity" is what they should be doing. There's no guarantee Oppy will make it to Endeavour, so when something so unique drops into your lap (or sandy suface as the case may be) you need to take advantage of it. At this point, there's no way to speculate what might be learned with the "free science" And there's no way to know when the end will come. This is much like human geologists would act. Sure you have plans, but when presented with something really special, you stop and investigate before you move on with the plan.