Opportunity Mission Update Thread

[JonClarke]

There is a very exciting image at http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2004-11-03/1P152775622EFF37K5P2439L2M1.JPG<br /><br />It shows an angular relationship between units at the bootm of the cliff and those higher up. There are three possibilities:<br /><br />1) Faulting, although in this case the faulting is very low angle to parallel to layering whereas faults typically associated with cratering are very steep. Therefore I don't prefer this option.<br /><br />2) Angular unconformity between steeply dipping older and sub horizontal younger rocks. This would be very exciting as it is concslive evidence for deformation and erosion cycles on mars. However, the evidence from orbital imagery is that Endurance crater is not situated near the bottom of the succession so again, I don't prefer this option.<br /><br />3) Large scale cross bedding. The scale of this and the evidence for lacustrine processes in other sediments would suggest wither a) aeolian dunes or b) fluvial cross bedding.<br /><br />I can see Opportunity spending another month or two in this area!<br /><br />Cheers<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>

 

[fangsheath]

I had thought that perhaps there were large slabs that had been thrown against the base of Burns Cliff, but now I think otherwise. The angled bedding lines are virtually touching, and I suspect that a closer look will show that the ones below do in fact make contact with the ones above. We have seen very steep cross-bedding before, but not on this scale. It could be difficult to distinguish between aeolian dunes consisting of evaporite material and cross bedded sediments deposited by moving water.<br />

 

[fangsheath]

I think the expectation is that the etched terrain contains all and perhaps even more of the stratigraphic sequence exposed in Endurance, without the distortion caused by the event that produced this crater. Also, if the etched terrain tells a story similar to that of Eagle and Endurance, it extends the story geographically. The beginning of the etched terrain is actually not that far away, about a mile.

 

[centsworth_II]

In addition to studying the layering in the etched terrain, there may be clues as to how that terrain was formed. Mostly wind action? Water? Geologic processes? There may be features and processes evident in the etched terrain that Opportunity has not yet seen. <br /><br />Also, there is a good chance that Jon Clarke's interpretations of the interesting features of Burns Cliff can be tested by studying similar, perhaps more extensive, features if they exist in the etched terrain. And, as fangsheath points out, it will be in a much less violently disturbed environment than that of Endurance Crater.<br /><br />But there is no guarantee that the etched terrain will turn out to be an ideal area to study any of this, so it's still a good idea to stick with the bird in the hand and study Burns Cliff as thoroughly as possible before leaving Endurance Crater. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[thechemist]

Every rock in the area in front of Burns Cliff seems to have the same erosional pattern, looking like a miniature Aztec pyramid. See here for several examples:<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2004-11-05/1P152865746EFF37LBP2441L5M1.JPG<br /><br />I remember we had seen this type of rocks earlier inside Endurance (too much work to search for them old images right now). Maybe someone can elaborate on specific implications, if any, of this type of erosion. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Just in case you guys missed this, Space.com has an article today, saying oppy has had a descent power boost. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[mikehoward]

Really, who would have thought we would see Oppy's wheels resting on Burns Cliff:<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2004-11-04/1F152866678EFF37LJP1214R0M1.JPG<br /><br />I suspect this rover could just drive over the rim right here and keep on going over the plains. Okay, maybe not, but this baby does seem to do really well on inclines, at least when it doesn't get bogged down in sand and loose rocks.

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"...Oppy's wheels resting on Burns Cliff..."</font><br /><br />Layers and layers, as far as the eye can see!<br />Opportunity has come a long way from the curb-high outcrop of Eagle crater. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[astrophoto]

You know what else has layers? Parfait.

 

[lunatic133]

*uncontrollable giggling*<br />Shrek 2 comes out on DVD today! Joy!<br />Because this isn't off topic or anything.

 

[centsworth_II]

And "parfait" is french for "perfect". And what a perfect climax to Opportunity's tour of Endurance: a close-up look at Burns Cliff, a landmark that seemed unattainable when Opportunity first spied it in it's first look over the lip of the crater. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mikehoward]

I guess the question now is, will they dare use the RAT at this inclination. Answer coming soon, I'm sure.

 

[scottb50]

Both seem to be functioning very well. I wonder if the costs of operating them will become too much to sustain, and commercial time will be made available. Buy a panorama, or, for just pennies, RAT a rock. Isn't that what its all about? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobvanx]

A recent image shows the solar panels gleaming. Compared to Spirit's, they look like they just arrived!<br /><br />A dust devil is a suggestion, but I have a different one that's going to be hard to swallow. I noticed those couple of "hills" inside Endurance crater. They have the same morphology as volcanic vents do at the California/Oregon borderlands, in the Cascades.<br /><br />These vents are gaseous venters, rather than magmatic, but they do "pop" the surface. Rock chunks pile about. Sometimes they hiss continuously.<br /><br />So perhaps while they were driving around, they got close enough to get vented on!

 

[thechemist]

More spectacular Pancam images uploaded today :<br /><br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2004-11-06/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[yurkin]

So let me get this straight. With all the talk on this forum about ways that could be done to clean the panels, nobody ventured to say that the rovers might not have to be cleaned. That some natural event could do it for us? That’s really quite amazing.<br /><br />I heard that the rovers might last for 600 sols. I thought last year that 300 sols was a too optimistic. Now I’m not so sure. Maybe Oppy could last for 900 sols and that’s just until it can no longer drive. It might be 4 years before a dust storm finally does it in.<br />

 

[backspace]

Now forgive me if this has been discussed, but the lighter rocks here in the foreground appear to have been recently ( a relative term) deposited. Further, they appear to be fragments of the same original rock. Their color is much different than the terrain surrounding them. I will admit their geometry is interesting too. They do not appear to have any streaks of dust around them, nor do they show "obvious" signs of weathering. Any theories on just what process may have tossed them here?

 

[thechemist]

Gravity perhaps ? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I'm only joking, until your image gets approved and we can see it. Any direct image links ? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[thechemist]

Interesting flow patterns in this R7 PanCam image.<br />Only sand can be seen in the R1 filter. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>I feel better than James Brown.</em> </div>

 

[scottb50]

Actually that could be it. The area looks to have been scoured from the face of the cliff, the only natural force that makes sense is galciation. I wonder if the out of place harder rocks are impact debris that has been deposited on the ice and been deposited as the ice melted?<br /><br />Being well into the winter it doesn't seem like much, if any, ice is being deposited today, so the climate has changed considerably, which would add more weight to water ice glaciation. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[the_ten]

Am I the only one who will NOT be suprised in the least to find out that yes, Mars once had ocean(s) and was a water world..? As a matter of fact, I've come to expect it at some point.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the exploration of Mars, the pictures, etc... It's an exciting time right now!

 

[fangsheath]

Here is a happy little panorama of a portion of Burns Cliff, most of it in false color. I presume they are slowly building a complete panorama, I think this one will be spectacular, easily rivaling the Cahokia panorama from West Spur.

 

[backspace]

I'm going to agree. Impact debris, settled after the ice evaporated. They are definitely made up of an entirely different composition than the terrain they lie upon.<br />

 

[yurkin]

I had a weird dream a while ago, I dreamt I was one of the rovers. <br /><br />I’m pretty sure I was Oppy judging from the terrain. I must have left Endurance and was traveling south across the plains. My arms were like the two front wheels. I couldn’t really feel the rover’s arm it was more like a tool. I could even switch to infrared and see with the different color filters. But when I tried to set one filter to red and the other filter to blue they couldn’t mix. One half of my vision would be red and the other half would be blue. I could also hear JPL contact me from what sounded like a radio on my back.<br /><br />Anyway I was traveling across the plain stopping at interesting rocks till I got to the “etched terrain.” It looked like the badlands only on a much smaller scale. The valleys were only a yard across and several yards deep. And I could see a lot of these cracks head out across the horizon. I was told to head out on to the nearest plateau and I remember the terrain going from sand to rock. I was following along the edge of a crack that I couldn’t see the bottom of. I was looking at the different strata in the rock as the crack got larger.<br /><br />Here’s where the dream gets weird. The crack finally opened up into a low area about a hundred feet across and maybe twenty feet below the plateau. The walls of the area were steep and rounded smooth from the wind. Five or six other cracks met there. But there was something alive down there. It reminds me now of those big lichens that grow on mountains. There were big red, brown, “petals” growing on top of each other in the center of the area. I could also see the petals growing like vines towards the walls of the area. They were also growing down the cracks. Now that I could see the bottom of the cracks I could tell it was damp down there. Water must have flowed there recently. It was undoubtedly alive because I could see the petals blow in the wind that came down the cracks. It was also

 

[mikehoward]

I'm getting vertigo!<br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2004-11-08/1N153045487EFF37LJP1909R0M1.JPG<br />http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2004-11-08/1N153045268EFF37LJP1909L0M1.JPG<br /><br />It looks like Fangsheath is right about the panorama, BTW, lots more pancam images coming down, showing amazingly detailed layering.