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Posted by: djellison Jan 1 2009, 06:02 PM

There have been, as far as I can find, 8 HiRISE obs of PHX released to the HiRISE website at full res (i.e. not 2x2 binned)

Of those, 5 are really quite good, 3 are not so great.

So I've overlaid the interesting parts to see any changes. The parachute folds over a bit at some point between Aug 23rd and Sept 19th - other than that, nothing really to see.

The different observing angles are very very obvious when you look at the back-shell on its side. Have a go at convincing yourself you can see changed in the arm work-volume. I couldn't quite see anything.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 2 2009, 08:21 PM

An update. According to this publication:

http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog/?p=227

Phoenix is still not covered with ice.

Posted by: Oersted Jan 3 2009, 12:45 AM

It seems to me that the chute is still attached to the backshell, it is, isn't it?

Thanks for posting those Doug, and thanks also Zvezdichko for that interesting link. I hope we can get another photo shoot in before darkness arrives.

Posted by: Hungry4info Jan 3 2009, 02:54 AM

I'm pretty sure it is. And yeah, it certainly looks that way.

Forgive my ignorance, but has the Phoenix Team released the final mosaic? I realise it might not be complete with Phoenix dying and all.
(I haven't been able to navigate this forum very effectively recently, it's been showing everything in outlined mode, which made it really hard to get around; turns out clearing all private data and cookies fixes it)

Posted by: djellison Jan 3 2009, 05:46 PM

Oh - yes - that's not going to change. But the chute itself, like Spirits, is doing the 'unmade bed flap'

Doug

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Jan 3 2009, 06:09 PM

Wouldn't it be funny after a really big storm to find the backshell dragged several feet.

(I know, I know, totally unrealistic, no need for anyone to sketch a force diagram.)

Posted by: djellison Jan 3 2009, 06:14 PM

Strong winds could probably do it if the chute were able to re-inflate - but in a ruffled lump on the surface, no chance. Opportunities didn't even re-inflate after the RAD's fired. I'm guessing the backshell speared straight into the chute or yanked it at such an angle as to deflate it. MPF, MERA - backshell and chute and one beside the other. MERB - the Backshell augered in and made a hell of a mess.

Must have been some cross-winds of some sort at the Phoenix site - on landing, the backshell turned over.

Doug

Posted by: Stu Mar 11 2009, 07:05 AM

Some Phoenix-from-HiRISE pics on my Phoenixpics blog...

http://phoenixpics.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/new-pictures-of-phoenix

Posted by: jasedm Mar 11 2009, 08:10 PM

These are great Stu! I miss the mission too.

Posted by: Astro0 Mar 15 2009, 10:31 AM

Stu, your PHX-HiRISE images made it as a link on the Trekmovie http://trekmovie.com/2009/03/13/science-friday-real-quadrotriticale-space-junk-magic-polymer-electric-water-more/section. There's a link to your Wordpress page about half way down.

Congrats! Helping to spread Mars news to the SF community.
It's good for them to see that the future is happening now.

Posted by: Stu Mar 15 2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the heads-up Astro0, I'm quite chuffed by that! I'll just go check how many Hits it got me... hang on....

Hmmm, 200 or so. Nice.

Can I now tell people I'm "on" the new Star Trek movie website?

Posted by: djellison Jul 31 2009, 09:05 PM

Spotted a new ESP image - it's been up a while, but I hadn't spotted what I think is a big fold up of the chute - The heatshield impact seems greatly subdued as well. Perhaps the significant change of the seasons invokes high wind speeds, which, combined with the arriving frost - has done some proper work at the PHX site.

Posted by: Sunspot Jul 31 2009, 09:46 PM

Is the HiRISE camera's image quality slowly deteriorating over time?

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Jul 31 2009, 10:45 PM

When was this new image taken?

Posted by: nprev Jul 31 2009, 11:58 PM

Yes...and did they also snap Phoenix? (I'm guessin' yes!)

Posted by: djellison Aug 1 2009, 07:34 AM

It saw all the pieces

http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_011980_2485

Feb '09.

I'm not sure what's going on with HiRISE. Looking at Opportunity and Spirit - the earliest images are the best. But there ARE images AS good as that in each months updates. PHX is an odd-ball because of low light angle, thus having to crank things up to get an image.

Posted by: Sunspot Aug 1 2009, 10:26 AM

Full inline quote of previous post removed - Mod

The first images released of the landing sites were stunning. But subsequent images from HiRISE show a lot of noise and banding.

Posted by: ugordan Aug 1 2009, 11:36 AM

Without going into the actual image and lighting geometry now, I'd venture a guess that's just a result of poor illumination and really marginal signal to noise ratio. No doubt detectors degrade over time, but this would be radical.