SOME STUNNING IMAGES FROM NASA’S MARS ROVER ...
Ever since Curiosity landed on Mars, I've been pouring over the photographs now being posted at NASA's website, and part of me is like a little kid again, just being thrilled that one is looking at color photographs being taken of another planet, our neighbor, millions of miles away. Take this one for example:
The NASA location for this photograph is here:
This little picture intrigues me for one basic reason, and that is, if one looks at the upper left hand part of the picture, particularly in its full screen version on the NASA website, it has the appearance to me of sedimentation, and that, of course, would require, at some time in Mars' past, water, vulcanism, techtonics, and as far as I recall, there's no evidence of the latter two around the landing site... It is, in other words, to this amateur's eye, a picture with unique implications for Martian planetary geology. Before we get carried away on that score however, it's important to note that, so far as I am aware, no geologist has commented in any detail about these photos. All I can say is what my eyes see, and what my eyes see looks like sedimentation.
Then there's this stunning black and white (and I'm not even going to comment on why I'm including this one):
The NASA address for this picture is here:
Mars Curiosity Black and White
But the one that grabbed me the most was this:
Apparently not even the folks at NASA could resist this one, for they obligingly put nice boxes and arrows around things ... as if our own eyes wouldn't have been inexorably drawn to these curious shapes on their own. (The NASA link for this picture is here: Curiosity's Curious Things)
Now, all of that is leading up to this one, yet another black and white image, and I again refrain from comment, other than to ask, "Do you see what I see?"
NASA's address for this picture is here (and it may be best to view this one, slowly and carefully, from NASA's website: Mars Curiosity Black and White Piece de Resistance).
Have fun with these folks, especially the last one, and...
...I'll see you on the flip side.
21 Comments
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On the panorama picture that commenter Vinnie left a link to, the metal looking object looks different so does the pyramid close to it. It looks even more like it doesn’t belong there. I don’t know but I do not trust NASA. When they redact part of a picture something is not for ordinary eyes. Why redact the Curiosity like that, is it top secret?
Hmmm… granted, human brain processing tends to resolve ambiguous images into known patterns.
But in pic #1. in the background, what are those paths, tracks, very eroded craterish “rims” with the mound inside that also has a straight edge and maybe a 90 degree corner? Also that shadow right triangle thing that also has another face in the light? Looks like some framing piece sticking up from the surface.
#2. The material that looks like left-over construction site concrete drippings plus the “fin” something with a straight side and a bevel, a slit, and a 45 degree angled edge. Tricks of light or wishful thinking or fantasy–right?! Right?!
#3. The miniature “Mayan pyramid” shape middle right background with several shadows that seem to indicate this is not just some misinterpreted lump, but actual stright sides. A piece of???
I’m going to have to do some serious work on rationalizations. So as to soothe my way into disbelief that I may rest quietly tonight. I DO NOT see “x.” I have a vivid imagination… These pictures are a hoax… NASA is totally objective and reliable… Repeat as needed.
I spent the better part of yersterday and most of last night looking at pictures from Mars. Official as well as various sites claiming to have corrected the false reddishness. I was raised on the beach and in the forest, I’ve done soil research, and I’m an artist, thus a good eye for natural image, color, and detail.
1. There are all sorts of pix of rocks and cliffs w/ banding. Very likely sandstone. Thus oceans. 2. There are NASA pix where the previous rover’s tread marks uncovered white, identified as silica, although it looks more like frost. In either case, water produced. 3. Look at both b & w pix above. Notice the haze in the distance. Not something associated w/ an allegedly “thin atmosphere.” 4. Also notice that the pix are sharp. That would tend to corrolate w/ brighter light than the usual murky red. Evidence the adjusted versions, which show a bluish sky and terrain like Ariz. or N. Mex, are correct. 5.The piece de resistance: a BBC One bit about the Mars rovers, and the current (at the time) one named “Spirit.” About 0:47 into the program, there is a brief pan shot of the chief scientist at his desk. In the background are two monitors. Whereon can be seen transmissions from Mars in colors totally Earth-like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEjJIFtXsTI
But why the half-hearted clumsy “cover-ups?” As if to invite curiosity (the word is even provided) and we’re supposed to put together the bits and pieces! To provoke such deep paranoia we go along with loss of liberty and a military state? But obviously any powers that (would) be are either not all that strong yet, and/or there are rival groups, and/or the human infrastructure of scientists and technicians isn’t very cooperative. And/or?
Pics look no different than parts of Afghanistan!
Real i am happy to see mars on earth its my fond in space science my childhood
They didn’t do a very good job of pasting in that mountain range. Ha
db
I didn’t manage to see smth special, any details of “metallic parts of some machinery”. The last image shows in a far remote something LIKE A LONELY STANDING pyramide. What this you called us to keep our attention to, Joseph? Other that that – rock stones, lifeless desert..
OMG, I see it! Some sort of metallic looking machinery. How the hell did that get on Mars? Obviously, some sort of alien technology. And look…Back in the hills. It’s William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy! I guess that old television series wasn’t kidding. The rocks and dirt look really cool too.
lol
i didnt notice the gear looking thingy but I did notice the pyramid shaped thinger to the right of that.
360 degree panorama
http://www.panoramas.dk/mars/curiosity-first-color-360.html
Regarding the first pic, what is so special about a rock with one flat surface?? Those occur naturally by the billion probably on this planet.
Regarding the second pic, even though that looks like a pyramid, this pic alone is not proof that it is indeed a pyramid. My guess is that there is at least a 50/50 chance that with higher resolution that pyramid will not look so convincing. Only pics from all sides at high enough resolution can really prove that that is a pyriamid.
I have been fooled so many times by appearances: one blurry pic just does not prove anything.
That being said, the pyramid is impressive looking. But that pic alone is not good enough to prove for sure that it is a pyramid.
And it needs to be said: it would be very easy to get pics from all sides, wouldn’t it?
I think that pyramid has a zipper, and looks like it could sleep 3 to 4 comfortably. Lousy choice for a campsite though. The two objects to the left of the tent are odd, but I haven’t got a clue about what they could be. I’m sure there is more to this pic though….. Possibly a pyramid (real one) at the far right side of the mountains? C’mon Joseph, throw us out a clue!
In the foreground near Curosity, there appear to be two indentations that resemble blast or impact sites of some type. They seem to be the only elements in this photo that are noticeably different from the rest of the image. They show more clearly on the NASA website.
Jay Leno said that the rover went out about 15 minutes and stopped.
Apparently, it just isn’t that curious.
Got to remember this is a meteor creator so it is not what Martian geology naturally consists of. The winds create huge sand storms on Mars and tumbling sand may be source of weathering and sedimentation instead of water. Sub-zero night time freezing to temperate day time temperatures makes a great rock buster especially from trace amounts of water and possibly other frozen and thawing gases.
That assumes that it gets that cold. I wouldn’t trust NASA on this.
I wish you would enlighten us liberal arts majors on what we are seeing that isn’t a greyish bunch of rocks here? Is there something in that last shot evidential of water, geological anomaly, or life?
wheres the coke can?
its nice to see NASA isnt using golf umbrellas anymore for communication equipment.
Yes. I saw it immediately on the day. Next to each other as well. It’s actually more clear than in the color version of the above. Got them all posted on my FB page.