Pictures From the Surface of.........

[h2ouniverse]

Andrew,<br /><br />Sorry. As a newcomer I was not aware of your "Astronomy from Mars thread" from February. Astounding pictures...

 

[h2ouniverse]

Boris,<br />Please see "Astronomy from Mars" thread from Andrew. He posted the Sunset picture in wider format last year, and many other fantastic ones.

 

[silylene old]

<font color="yellow">Please see "Astronomy from Mars" thread from Andrew. He posted the Sunset picture in wider format last year, and many other fantastic ones.</font><br /><br />Actually that sunset picture was posted first by rlb2 (I think), in the super long thread called "Images of Mars" (IIRC), which was so long that the thread had a part1, part2 and part3. If you have never seen this thread, do look it up; it is my favorite thread on the SDC.<br /><br />The picture first posted by one of our SDC contributors was made here, before NASA/JPL generated a similar picture, and I always thought our SDC version remains the best picture of this sunset. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><em><font color="#0000ff">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</font></em> </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center"><font color="#0000ff"><em>I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function.</em></font> </div> </div>

 

[jaxtraw]

H2Ouniverse, thanks for working out the Moon's magnitude from Mars!<br /><br />It's intriguing to think if Mars had been the cradle of intelligence, their astronomers would have had a headstart working out celestial mechanics- they'd not have needed to wait to invent a telescope before seeing planetary satellites- I see elsewhere on the board it's mentioned that Jupiter's moons are visible too <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[brellis]

hi jaxtraw<br /><br /><font color="yellow">It's intriguing to think if Mars had been the cradle of intelligence, their astronomers would have had a headstart working out celestial mechanics- they'd not have needed to wait to invent a telescope before seeing planetary satellites- I see elsewhere on the board it's mentioned that Jupiter's moons are visible too</font><br /><br />Your point leads to an interesting philosophical query:<br /><br />How different would we be if it were abundantly clear that intelligent life existed elsewhere in the solar system, let alone the Universe? Would religion have the same role for humanity if Mars were still "warmer and wetter", Venus were cooler and both planets harbored signs of advanced life? <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>

 

[vandivx]

that would be amazing if there were people on both Mars and <br />Venus, a little bit more advanced than us on one and less on the <br />other for comparison, could have been that way if...<br /><br />not long ago I have seen a pic released that showed I believe <br />two moons next to a planet , not sure if that was around Mars or<br /> Saturn (don't know even off hand if there is one orbiting Saturn<br /> at the moment...) and it said as description that the orbital <br />probe had to turn around in order to take that picture and that it<br /> was worth it even if there wasn't any scientific value in the <br />picture itself...<br />anybody remembers which one it was?<br /><br />vanDivX <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brellis]

<font color="yellow">not long ago I have seen a pic released that showed I believe<br />two moons next to a planet , not sure if that was around Mars or<br />Saturn (don't know even off hand if there is one orbiting Saturn<br />at the moment...) and it said as description that the orbital<br />probe had to turn around in order to take that picture and that it<br />was worth it even if there wasn't any scientific value in the<br />picture itself...<br />anybody remembers which one it was?<br /><br />vanDivX </font><br /><br />Perhaps this one: New Horizons captured a picture of crescent Europa rising behind Jupiter. Our venerable Moderator telfrow brought it to our attention in this post on the NH thread:<br /><br /><font color="orange"><i>The picture was one of a handful of the Jupiter system that New Horizons took primarily for artistic, rather than scientific, value. This particular scene was suggested by space enthusiast Richard Hendricks of Austin, Texas, in response to an Internet request by New Horizons scientists for evocative, artistic imaging opportunities at Jupiter. </i></font>/safety_wrapper> <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>

 

[vandivx]

that's the idea, yes but I think it wasn't this picture I have in mind, there was no mention of who requested it (although that means nothing) and also they turned the probe specifically to take the shot as a brief time out from otherwise scientific duties that these probes do, I might dwell later today into my browsers history if I could find it, you can see I am not astronomy buff, otherwise I would remember exactly which planet and so on, on the other hand this might have been the shot<br /><br />I liked the idea of taking some time off to take shots that would be of interest to normal folks as well as astronomers who I bet also enjoy them even if there is no science in such shots, they have the human value so to speak<br /><br />BTW they didn't have to turn the picture to make it look more normal, I quite like those pictures that bring home to people that moons also orbit 'underneath' planets (not always overhead as we are used to see our Moon) and that with little stretch of imagination you can almost see the 'australians walk upside down' on the planet or on one of those asteroids... <br /><br />vanDivX <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

WE are the right way up. It is the other people who are upside down....... <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>

 

[brellis]

hey Jon <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br /><font color="yellow">WE are the right way up. It is the other people who are upside down.......</font>-- you Aussies are simply incorrigible <img src="/images/icons/wink.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>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Apollo 12 Visits Surveyor 3. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

MeteorWayne already posted a pic of Asteroid Gaspara, but I found a color APOD taken by the Galileo spacecraft.<br /><br />Asteroid Gaspra's Best Face <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Lunokhod 1: Moon Robot<br />On November 17, 1970 the Soviet Luna 17 spacecraft landed the first roving remote-controlled robot on the Moon. Known as Lunokhod 1, it weighed just under 2,000 pounds and was designed to operate for 90 days while guided by a 5-person team on planet Earth at the Deep Space Center near Moscow, USSR. Lunokhod 1 actually toured the lunar Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) for 11 months in one of the greatest successes of the Soviet lunar exploration program. The futuristic looking eight wheeler is pictured here in an artist's conception atop its landing module. Ramps extend from both sides of the spacecraft allowing the rover to choose an alternative route to the surface if one side is blocked by boulders. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Just should point out that is not true color,IIRC. The colors are enhanced to highlight the differences in composition. <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>

 

[3488]

Hi MeteorWayne.<br /><br />Yes, you are correct.<br /><br />951 Gaspra is yellowish.<br /><br />Below is a 'true natural' colour of 951 Gaspra.<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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Good afternoon Andrew.<br />Boy you were up late last night <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <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>

 

[3488]

Good afternoon my good friend.<br /><br />Yes I was.<br /><br />Just amazing now that I can access the web as & when I like, with the upgraded line<br />& new gear.<br /><br />Shame that the e-mail still does not work.<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>

 

[MeteorWayne]

June 16th APOD, <br /><br />Original Caption Released with Image: <br />Copernicus is 93 km wide and is located within the Mare Imbrium Basin, northern nearside of the Moon (10 degrees N., 20 degrees W.). Image shows crater floor, floor mounds, rim, and rayed ejecta. Rays from the ejecta are superposed on all other surrounding terrains which places the crater in its namesake age group: the Copernican system, established as the youngest assemblage of rocks on the Moon (Shoemaker and Hackman, 1962, The Moon: London, Academic Press, p.289- 300). today's link <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>

 

[JonClarke]

Speaking of Lunokhod brings to mind Marskhod. What might have been, and might one day still be...<br /><br /><br />(from a 2002 Russian edition of Popular Mechanics) http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/oblojki/periodika/popular-mech-2002-12.jpg<br /><br />Jon<br /> <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>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Do you think you can get vladward to traslate for us? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Obviously the big lettering says: "Popular Mechanics".<br /><br />But we know enough about the Russian Marskhopd progrjects to say that this is a representation (with some artistic liberties) of the Proton-launched 4M spacecraft. There was a matching 5M sample return project.<br /><br />The descent stage is looks like it based on that used by Lunokhod, probably more so than was actually the case. The rover itself is approximately right, but the actual wheels would have been quite different. Marsokhod used highly articulated conical wheels.<br /><br />There was an earlier Marsokhod project, which was very closely based on Lunokhod (but with a different descent stage). This would have been launched by the N-1.<br /><br />Information on all these projects can be found in Perminov's book - see http://www.klabs.org/richcontent/Reports/mars/difficult_road_to_mars.pdf (caution - multi MB document!)<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>

 

[brellis]

...an auction house in Paris where a Soviet-era space capsule was recently sold. <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>

 

[JonClarke]

Cool! Photon is the Vostok-derived spacecraft used for materials processing research. There have been 14 launched, the most recent in 2002 and 2005. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/foton.htm<br /><br />We are getting off the subject now <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>

 

[brellis]

Actually a pic <i>of</i> the surface of mercury taken by the SOAR telescope:<br /><br /><font color="yellow">A UNC-Chapel Hill astronomer captured rare photographs of Mercury on Friday. He did it by aiming a telescope 4,599 miles away in Chile at a planet 91 million miles from Earth.<br /><br />"There are only a few objects left unseen in the solar system. One is that hemisphere of Mercury," astrophysicist Gerald Cecil said.<br /><br />The best photographs of Mercury, the planet closest to the sun, are 32 years old and incomplete. Snapped by an unmanned spacecraft in 1974, they missed 55 percent of the planet because it rotates very slowly.<br /><br />Cecil pulled more of Mercury out of the shadows by seizing an unusual opportunity. Half of Mercury's missed hemisphere points Earth's way this month. And the planet, normally hard to see because it's close to the sun, is popping above Earth's horizon briefly before dawn, making it visible to a telescope. Read the rest of the article at newsobserver.com. </font>/safety_wrapper> <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>

 

[kosmonavtkaa]

Rough translation (using online translator): Жизнь на марÑе будет - There will be life on Mars <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>