Mars Landscape Images Surprise Scientists

miamiair (netAirspace FAA) 30 Aug 12, 10:46

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover has returned images to earth of Martian geological features that are completely “unexpected” say mission scientists at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

A mosaic of high-definition images of Mount Sharp, the central peak dominating the landing site at Gale Crater, reveals tilted strata never before seen on Mars. The strata dip downwards at an angle close to that of the slope of the foothills of the 18,000-ft. tall mountain within which they are formed.

“The cool thing is the cameras have discovered something we were unaware of,” says mission chief scientist John Grotzinger. “This thing jumped out at us as being very different to what we expected,” he adds. Lying in the low-lying foothills beyond the dune field between the rover and the base of Mount Sharp, the inclined layers are a “spectacular feature” that could not be seen from orbit.

NASA is not yet willing to speculate in detail on the mechanics of the processes which created the landform. On earth such features are typically formed by tectonic, volcanic, sub-aqueous or wind-driven processes. The JPL team plans to use Curiosity’s stereoscopic mast cameras (Mastcam) to measure the precise angle of the dipping strata after a short 10-meter drive scheduled for Aug. 28, says Grotzinger. The new images were collected by the rover’s 100-millimeter telephoto lens and 34mm wide-angle lens.

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And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen

vikkyvik 31 Aug 12, 05:13

Every time I see a photo from the surface of Mars, it just brings back the completely overwhelming feeling of.....amazement, I guess...not sure!

Just the fact that we are seeing the surface of another planet....Can't really put it into words.

One feeling I can put into words: it pisses me off a bit that it's coming up on 40 YEARS since we last put humans on another rock. I can't imagine how it must feel for you all who were alive when the Apollo 17 mission ended. To not see further progress since then (taking nothing away from the Shuttle and other very cool missions).

Coz 01 Sep 12, 16:19

I wonder what the layers of strata are made of?

If you're dealing with layers of rock, you're dealing with the movement of rock over time -- much like a tree and its growth rings sort of.

Obviously, martian wind storms are a factor, but it would be very interesting to see layers that are sedimentary, and wonder how they got there. Flowing water, or other liquids, perhaps?

To what extent has Mars had a history of volcanic history? Strata can show an adequate determination.

Any indications of methane stored in the rocks this time?

Boris (Founding Member) 01 Sep 12, 19:32

vikkyvik wrote:I can't imagine how it must feel for you all who were alive when the Apollo 17 mission ended. To not see further progress since then (taking nothing away from the Shuttle and other very cool missions).

I witnessed quite a few launches and Apollo 17 was by far the most impressive. I was at Jetty Park, Port Canaveral, about a dozen or so miles away. It was the only Apollo to lift off at night, a bit after midnight if I recall, and it was like the sun came out. Saturns lift off slowly, no solid boosters, and I won't forget the ground shaking, the roar, it was unreal.

I saw about half of the Shuttle launches, and they were impressive too, but nothing like Apollo. When I watched Apollo 17 it never occurred to me that it would probably be the last moon mission in my lifetime.

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers...

JeffSFO (Photo Quality Screener & Founding Member) 01 Sep 12, 20:01

Coz wrote:To what extent has Mars had a history of volcanic history?

A history of a history? Yes.

Mars has the largest volcanoes in the solar system with Olympus Mons being the largest although they're all extinct now:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympus_Mons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tharsis_Montes

Further reading.

Coz 02 Sep 12, 07:38

JeffSFO wrote:
Coz wrote:To what extent has Mars had a history of volcanic history?

A history of a history? Yes.

Mars has the largest volcanoes in the solar system with Olympus Mons being the largest although they're all extinct now:

Any idea about how far back they quit?

Coz 02 Sep 12, 07:59

JeffSFO wrote:
Coz wrote:To what extent has Mars had a history of volcanic history?

A history of a history? Yes.

[/quoute]

Can you make the a double-shot?

JeffSFO wrote:the largest although they're all extinct now:

Blasphemic, nonsense, it is still partially active. {grumpy}

JeffSFO (Photo Quality Screener & Founding Member) 02 Sep 12, 08:20

Coz wrote:Blasphemic, nonsense, it is still partially active.

Partially active is like being kind of pregnant. Either the magma is present or not and without magma activity they're extinct.

Evidence suggests that eruptions may have occurred in the last two to four million years but that's far beyond what is considered "active" in Earth terms:

http://www.space.com/198-mars-volcanoes-possibly-active-pictures-show.html

Coz 02 Sep 12, 08:35

JeffSFO wrote:
Coz wrote:Blasphemic, nonsense, it is still partially active.

Partially active is like being kind of pregnant. Either the magma is present or not and without magma activity they're extinct.

Evidence suggests that eruptions may have occurred in the last two to four million years but that's far beyond what is considered "active" in Earth terms:

http://www.space.com/198-mars-volcanoes-possibly-active-pictures-show.html

I 100% do not agree.

They could at anytime go off and destroy earth.

The more we learn about this mysterious red planet, the more I feel compelled to declare it an enemy.

JeffSFO (Photo Quality Screener & Founding Member) 02 Sep 12, 08:39

Coz wrote:They could at anytime go off and destroy earth.

Cool.

Nosedive 03 Sep 12, 14:03

JeffSFO wrote:
Coz wrote:They could at anytime go off and destroy earth.

Cool.

Story.

vikkyvik 03 Sep 12, 19:38

Nosedive wrote:
JeffSFO wrote:
Coz wrote:They could at anytime go off and destroy earth.

Cool.

Story.

Bro.

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