MSL landing site: Gale Crater |
MSL landing site: Gale Crater |
May 20 2012, 01:08 AM
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#136
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Member Group: Members Posts: 808 Joined: 10-October 06 From: Maynard Mass USA Member No.: 1241 |
... there are 10 named hills in Gusev...add to the list the Apollo 1 Hills: Grissom, White, Chafee
(Doug, are we dancing up to the no politics rule with this thread?) -------------------- CLA CLL
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May 20 2012, 02:03 AM
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#137
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2517 Joined: 13-September 05 Member No.: 497 |
... there are 10 named hills in Gusev...add to the list the Apollo 1 Hills: Grissom, White, Chafee Of course the IAU recognizes crater names on the Moon for the Apollo 1 astronauts. (And it's Chaffee, BTW.) -------------------- Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
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May 20 2012, 04:40 AM
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#138
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3431 Joined: 11-August 04 From: USA Member No.: 98 |
For what it's worth, I think Aeolis Mons makes sense given the proximity to Aeolis Mensae and the sheer size of the mound. As was mentioned, it's more consistent with the naming conventions. Also, Robert Sharp is as big as Gale, and that ain't bad? But then, I've always wanted that crater to have a name.
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May 20 2012, 07:00 AM
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#139
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1583 Joined: 14-October 05 From: Vermont Member No.: 530 |
I agree that this was a confusing and seemingly ill-considered move. It would be interesting to get a statement from Brad Smith, the chair of the IAU Mars Task Group, about why they chose to do this now. They had a lot of vowels in their scrabble slate. Aeolis. All it's missing is 'u.' |
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May 20 2012, 07:23 AM
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#140
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Thanks for the reference image, Mike.
Gotta admit, Prof. Sharp's crater is a beauty: not only large, but geologically fascinating. It's a worthy official tribute to him for sure, but I really think that the IAU should have left the Gale peak officially nameless at this (of all possible!) times. -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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May 20 2012, 09:51 AM
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#141
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
(sigh)
The timing of this was either simply unfortunate, or deliberate. If it was the former, then it kind of suggests that the IAU doesn't appreciate the importance of the MSL mission, and was unaware of the work already done planning the landing and the mission. If it's the latter, well, that's someone deliberately trying to cause trouble and show those pesky scientists who really is in charge of christening things Out There, because they could have done this long ago. Either way, it's yet another thing that makes me really wish that The Powers That Be - in many aspects of life - would just leave well alone... -------------------- |
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May 20 2012, 01:33 PM
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#142
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10166 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
I don't think this type of speculation helps UMSF's reputation.
But if you want an alternative hypothesis I would propose that the official naming process was already under way and someone on the mission didn't bother to check before issuing a premature press release with an informal name. If anybody should comment it's the MSL team, not Brad Smith. Now let's leave it until more information becomes available. Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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May 20 2012, 04:16 PM
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#143
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Hmm, maybe that's a good idea; I was getting a bit X-Files there...
Shame tho... there are so many good rhymes for "Sharp"... -------------------- |
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May 20 2012, 05:09 PM
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#144
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Member Group: Members Posts: 530 Joined: 21-March 06 From: Canada Member No.: 721 |
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May 23 2012, 07:43 PM
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#145
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2530 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 321 |
On a linguistic note, Aeolis strikingly resembles the scientific term aoelian, of or made by wind, which is highly relevant to the formation hypotheses for the mound -- but this near-homonym is coincidental. Aeolis is a Greek location name from Asia Minor. That is to say, we can anticipate some linguistic gems which use both words in the same sentence. Maybe even an adjectival form aeolisian to sweeten the pot.
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Jun 12 2012, 06:41 PM
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#146
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10166 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
The recent telecon on the resized landing ellipse cleared up one point: The mission is still using their informal name "Mount Sharp" for the big mound. And that's fine - the mountain has a formal name which will be used in formal settings, and an informal mission-specific name.
I was actually hoping for a new map with one or two new placenames, but I am something of a naming nut anyway. I am a bit sorry that the big alluvial fan in the original ellipse will probably be missed now. Still a chance they could get something on the southern edge of the fan, though. Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Jul 17 2012, 02:12 PM
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#147
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10166 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
-------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Jul 17 2012, 07:22 PM
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#148
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Member Group: Members Posts: 470 Joined: 24-March 04 From: Finland Member No.: 63 |
Has there been any study of the traversability of those dunes in the southeast?
-------------------- Antti Kuosmanen
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Jul 17 2012, 07:27 PM
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#149
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10166 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Yes, lots, including recent operations with a test rover in the desert. There are many paths through or around the dunes. Matt Golombek has published a detailed analysis of traversability.
Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Jul 17 2012, 07:39 PM
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#150
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
Dang I'm already eating so many pistachios in anticipation of nervous time at the PlanetFest thingy, my nickname for MSL is Pistachiosity!
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