Cape York - Shoemaker Ridge and the NE traverse, Starting sol 2735 Options

[Stu]

Oppy's next destination - the Shoemaker Ridge...



(3D version here http://roadtoendeavour.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/sr-3d.jpg )

Some more height...surrounded by lots of gorgeous rocks...view right across Endeavour... our first view too, probably, of the Promised Land in the centre of Cape York where the phylosillicates are waiting to be found...

Go get 'em, Oppy!

Edit: looks like Oppy's on the move...

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...84P1211L0M1.JPG

[fredk]

It looks like the 2735 move was towards the west, ie towards Odyssey crater, instead of directly towards Shoemaker ridge (north). Positioning for a drive north, or checking out Odyssey ejecta - we'll find out soon enough.

Edit: my guess is checking out Odyssey ejecta, since directly north looked totally drivable.

[Bill Harris]

<snips>

The outcrop Skead Kirkland Lake is one we've drooled at before and is an interesting-looking exposure. Why is there an unusual purplish iridescent sheen to the rock? I'll guess it's a weathering phenomenon, which is the important step in turning silicate rocks into clays. Wouldn't hurt to have a closer look-- not necessarily a full IDD session, but a series of close-in Pancams would be peachy.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r91/wil...19P2398L2M1.jpg

Oppy moved today, and as suggested, the move is to outcrop Skead Kirkland Lake to the west, which is near Odyssey ejecta. A few sols drooling on that outcrop, then off to the Shoemaker Ridge site for looks at what I'm naming informally on my end "the Allen Formation".

And some interesting imagery in the data pipeline today, so stay tuned...

--Bill

[charborob]

Navcam panorama of Oppy's position on sol 2735.

[jvandriel]

The Pancam L2 view from Sol 2735 and 2736
stitched together.

Jan van Driel

[fredk]

Looks like a good drive roughly to the north (away from Tribulation) on 2737:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2737
I guess they only wanted to do some quick imaging at the previous site close to Odyssey.

[Bill Harris]

It looks as though they're heading along the ridgetop upslope of "BostonCreek LarderLake". I was hoping to get a peek at the finely-bedded strata. Next area of interest may be that light-toned rectangular pattern on the way to the "summit crater" with the CRISM clays.

--Bill

[Tesheiner]

Looking north on this image, CY looks almost flat and featureless.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...CVP1966L0M1.JPG

[jvandriel]

The Navcam L0 view in the drive direction on Sol 2737.
Jan van Driel

[fredk]

This looks like a precariously perched rock:

But my guess is the lower left side of the rock looks like background when it's really part of the rock.

[ngunn]

a precariously perched rock

Hey, let's go and give it a shove!
I know, I've got this irrational urge to look under rocks. I think it comes from playing on the beach as a child.

[Matt Lenda]

It looks as though they're heading along the ridgetop upslope of "BostonCreek LarderLake". I was hoping to get a peek at the finely-bedded strata. Next area of interest may be that light-toned rectangular pattern on the way to the "summit crater" with the CRISM clays.

--Bill

Yeah, we're boogeying on out to Shoemaker Ridge as fast as we can. We need to do a detailed in-situ survey of north-facing slopes and plan out some lily-pads to take us through the Winter solstice (03/31/11).

Among other things.

-m

[PDP8E]

10x precariously perched rock (noise cancel on stretched jpg ... argg)

[Bill Harris]

Ah, I remember reading about the need to winter-over on a north-facing slope this year, so a boogie makes more sense than a mosey. Whatever we zip by now can be revisited on the return trip to Tribulation...

--Bill

[CosmicRocker]

10x precariously perched rock (noise cancel on stretched jpg ... argg)

It looks like Nessie to me.

[mhoward]

Here's the Sol 2737 Pancam mosaic anaglyph. Watch out for that shallow crater, Oppy.

[Explorer1]

At the far north-east corner is that odd straight 'cut' or 'slash' in the side of CY, right? Would be nice to look at while wintering over (assuming I didn't miss a consensus on it being something completely ordinary).

[vikingmars]

At the far north-east corner is that odd straight 'cut' or 'slash' in the side of CY, right? Would be nice to look at while wintering over (assuming I didn't miss a consensus on it being something completely ordinary).

==> Are you speaking of "Dagger Valley" ?

[fredk]

It looks like another substantial drive northish on 2738:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2738
This should put us in a good spot to image the north-facing slopes of Shoemaker ridge.

[mhoward]

This isn't precisely accurate (unless the rover is hovering), but sort of pretty:

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Stu]

Wow... every time you do that I get a real slap-across-the-face reality check... looking at the pictures on their own, with no rover for scale, it's easy to fool yourself into thinking Oppy is much, much smaller, or the landscape is much more, I don't know... epic? You plonk her down amidst the dunes and dust and suddenly everything seems smaller. Anyone else feel that?

[climber]

I agree Stu...but mind...it's gona be "worse" with Curiosity!

[mhoward]

Anyone else feel that?

I've always found it incredibly difficult to judge the scale of things the rovers are seeing, which, thinking back, is why I put Doug's model in my program to begin with. But if one extends the view to the right, I think it's epic enough

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[fredk]

Shoemaker Ridge looks pretty subtle from this side:

[ngunn]

Really beautiful (and obviously well constructed) 3D view. Never mind the ridge, look at the vista.

[Explorer1]

Yes vikingmars, that's what I meant.
Does it have an official name yet? It certainly stands out enough.

[vikingmars]

Yes vikingmars, that's what I meant. Does it have an official name yet? It certainly stands out enough.

No official name yet : this is the name we gave this feature at Societe Astronomique de France, because it looks like a dagger made out of hard rock by cavemen as seen oftenly in our paleontology museums...

[mhoward]

Sol 2738 Pancam mosaic right anaglyph

I recommend the anaglyph. According to the data Opportunity has already driven well into this mosaic and I can't wait to see what she's seeing now.

[Stu]

Love these low Sun angle views...

[fredk]

My estimate of our location after the 2739 drive:

It looks like a long drive (over 70 metres!). We should be able to map out the next group of north-facing slopes from around here. And judging from the rear hazcam view, we should now have a direct view of the putative clay-bearing region. Can't wait for the nav/pancams...

[Stu]

And judging from the rear hazcam view, we should now have a direct view of the putative clay-bearing region. Can't wait for the nav/pancams...

I think you're right... two new pancams down so far, one (L) shows, I think, those 'rectangular markings'. Little clearer when stretched...



So Oppy sailed right past the Shoemaker Ridge and is going after the Good Stuff, eh?

[mhoward]

two new pancams down so far

That's still before the drive. Opportunity is now supposed to be on the left side of that image, with what might be a pretty interesting view.

Looks like she's moving right along, yes.

[Stu]

They were *before* the drive? Sorry, should have checked the image reg. Anyway, even better, we should get a really good view of The Promised Land in the next batch...

[jvandriel]

The Navcam L0 view on Sol 2738.

Jan van Driel

[jvandriel]

and the Pancam L2 view on Sol 2738.

Jan van Driel

[Guest_Oersted_*]

The slopes up ahead look promising for opportunities to tilt the rover before the impending winter. When is it more or less that we need to do that, btw?

Thx for the stitches!

[MoreInput]

Funny, instead of slowly driving north to search for the clays they rush in highspeed over Cape York. Cool, and that will give every day new views of this place.
I'm really interested how the clays and phyllosilicates look from the bottom! Will they have a distinct visible structure or are they just as rocks as we all have seen the last years?

[fredk]

Yeah, my impression is they want to map out any north-facing slopes now, while they still have plenty of power to drive, in case they need them this winter. And the closer to the clays the better. So it looks like science is on hold for now. But that may change as soon as they decide they've found good slopes.

When is it more or less that we need to do that, btw?

They don't know yet if they'll need to park at all. It depends on the dust. Check out the latest PS update for some comments about this.

[Of counsel]

By my estimate, we're now on the southern edge of the phyllosilicates. Compare Tesheiner's map for 2739 (today) and the phyllosilicate signatures (red) in CRISM:

[mhoward]

A single Navcam image has made it to the web - one which isn't particularly illuminating, LOL. If it helps (probably not), the right side of that image is facing North.

Here's where the tracking data says the rover is:

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[climber]

I'm a bit confused not to stay "lost". On Eduardo's map, I have no doubt North is "UP". So, I see East facing slopes on pictures and no North facing slopes unless Oppy is decending at this time. Can somebody tell me what's wrong with this?

[fredk]

I'm not sure if this will help, but generally the slopes are east facing here, although there are some "knobs" that might have north-facing slopes of varying degrees, that I've circled here:

I'm thinking those are the areas they want to map carefully.

[Bill Harris]

Interesting place, this Ridge of Shoemaker. FIrst loook, a different particle size and shape distribution in the soil, and look st the rounded cobbles.

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...00P0600L0M1.JPG

--Bill

[mhoward]

Quite a view.

Sol 2740 360x80 degree Navcam left right anaglyph

Edit: tweaked the anaglyph a bit

[CosmicRocker]

... and look at the rounded cobbles. ...

Those are curious, aren't they?

[fredk]

Yep - I don't recall a group of globby cobbles quite like that.

This frame's looking farther up CY towards the main clay signature area:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2740

[mhoward]

Where do you even start with a place like this? Will be interesting to see what happens next.

Edit: Well, start with some Pancam, hopefully

[mhoward]

Here's a version of the 360x80 degree Navcam anaglyph with image sharpened and focal point a bit farther out. (I'm fascinated by the topography to the north-northeast.)

[Bill Harris]

Curious, yes. Note that the cobbles all have a light area on one end. First thought was "ah, a specular reflection", but in an L0 Navcam, light=reddish so it's an "ocher" spot. Given the orientation, they seem to be in the "downwind" direction so it's in a wind-dead zone and light particles tend to collect and adhere or beind downwind, there is less aeolian abrasion and erosion. And in fredk's Navcam view, look at the ripple-forming sand plus the rounded cobbles, with a mix of particles like that, this is a area of active weathering and erosion. Unique area, and we've just now gotten here.

I'm hoping for a sidetrip to the spot with those rectangular lineations (which I'm informally calling "Secular City" til we get an official name) for a quick peek and close-in color views.

That fascinating topography is in the direction of the dark-filled crater, "summit crater", informally.

--Bill

[Tesheiner]

Quite a view.

Sol 2740 360x80 degree Navcam left right anaglyph

Edit: tweaked the anaglyph a bit

The left navcam mosaic in polar form.

[Bill Harris]

Good application of a circular panorama.

Compare with Phil's Cir_Pan of Mike's Sol-2710 Navcam pan:

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&id=25510

(in post http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&p=178440 ) -- you can tell we are no longer on the side of a hill, and you can just make out "summit crater" to the NNE.

--Bill




EDIT: and with Phil's current circular pan two posts down: http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&id=25663 . Same data, different perspectives.

[climber]

I'm not sure if this will help, but generally the slopes are east facing here, although there are some "knobs" that might have north-facing slopes of varying degrees, that I've circled here:
I'm thinking those are the areas they want to map carefully.

I've got the point , thanks Fredk, this make sense now.

[Phil Stooke]

My version of mhoward's nice panorama in circular form.

Phil

[Bill Harris]

I uploaded to the PhotoBucket site an index image of the area between Odyssey Crater and the "unnamed summit crater" in the CRISM clay area, in PNG format.

HiRISE image of part of Cape York, at Endeavour Crater.
Cropped, sharpened and enhanced and map oriented.
Covers MER traverse from Odyssey Crater to CRISM clay area

Image ESP_024015_1775 _RED

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r91/wil...maker_Ridge.png


Somewhat grainy-looking, but I've concluded that this is due to sub-pixel light spots and dark cobbles on the ground pushing the average pixel value up or down.

You can orient yourself using Tesheiner's Route Maps or with the Cir_Pans uploaded earlier.

--Bill

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

Do those rectangular features correspond to the clay signature?

[Floyd]

Nope, just the foundation stones of the old fort.

[ElkGroveDan]

Now we know where it landed after it was sent spinning.

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[fredk]

Nice view from sol 2736 showing Odyssey ejecta, then Odyssey itself, then Spirit Point on CY, and finally the jumbled terrain we zoomed over on our way in...

[mhoward]

Not seamless, but... (Sol 2736 "Kirkland Lake" red-cyan anaglyph)

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Ron Hobbs]

I'm hoping for a sidetrip to the spot with those rectangular lineations (which I'm informally calling "Secular City" til we get an official name) for a quick peek and close-in color views.

Those 'rectangular lineations' look a lot like the cemented fractures in Gale Crater. Description of cemented fractures.



They don't say anything about clay in the image caption, but it is evidence of water. My guess the MER team will want to take a look at this feature; maybe Oppy will scoop MSL.

Anyway, I hope so too. Go Oppy, go!

[Stu]

Now we know where it landed after it was sent spinning.

Close, Dan, but I think this is more likely...

[Bill Harris]

And the P2405 sequence images today from Sol -2739 named "Sutherland Knobbys" is to the southeast and shows just the edge of the rectangular lineations. They are still mostly hidden by the ridge.

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...G8P2405L2M1.JPG

and

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...G8P2405L2M1.JPG

"Sutherland Knobbys" is an interesting bit of Aussie history--

http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/...s-head-on-mars/


The prominent ridge in the second image is actually Sutherland Point in Botany Bay and Knobbys Head is behind it. Or so I think.

--Bill

[eoincampbell]

Don't want to Tar dis thread but... I hope we can investigate those features ...

[fredk]

And the P2405 sequence images today from Sol -2739 named "Sutherland Knobbys" is to the southeast and shows just the edge of the rectangular lineations. They are still mostly hidden by the ridge.

I'd say that pancam sequence is looking more S-SW, well away from the "lineations". But the lineations are just visible in the navcams, here:

Obviously we'll need pancams (or to drive closer!) to make out any detail.

[Bill Harris]

Those 'rectangular lineations' look a lot like the cemented fractures in Gale Crater

May very well be-- my first thought on those was "cold water hydrothermal cementation along fractures", which is another way of saying "mineral-saturated groundwater once filled the fractures. The water deposited minerals on both sides of the opening". There have been several suggestions of "cold water hydrothermal" activity at Meridiani and this clinches it.

--Bill

[Bill Harris]

I'd say that pancam sequence is looking more S-SW, well away from the "lineations".

Errr, could be. I'm getting a bit disoriented here, even with tracking data and orbital images.

--Bill

[fredk]

Here's an identification of features to the NE, where the clay signatures lie:

(The inset is L/R registered average of the 2740 navcam, with 2x vertical stretch.)

The circled outcrops could be our first peek at the rocks we've been seeking for so long...

[mhoward]

Here's an identification of features to the NE, where the clay signatures lie:

Nice. And if it helps with orientation at all (which is indeed challenging), the 360 degree panorama I posted above is centered on north, as are the circular projections.

[walfy]

Great new images of the Odyssey boulders have come down, looking forward to the mosaics (hope to learn how to make them myself one day). An example of the anaglyphs in store:

[fredk]

Yeah, I should say - I couldn't've made those ID's without your mosaic and the circular projections!

BTW, in case anyone isn't monitoring the website, the Endeavour approach movie has been compiled, with accelerometer soundtrack. Really nice.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pr.../20111010a.html

[CosmicRocker]

This paper associates phyllosilicates with polygonal lineations in HiRise imagery, and offers some other interesting observations regarding the directions that some of the layers dip.

3. Morphology and Stratigraphy
[10] Images of the phyllosilicate-bearing crater rim segments from the MRO High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) [McEwen et al., 2007] reveal layering and a range of polygonal textures (Figure 3a), similar in appearance to other phyllosilicate-bearing outcrops in Meridiani [Wiseman et al., 2008; Marzo et al., 2009] and many other locations on Mars [e.g., Wray et al., 2008; Bishop et al., 2008; Ehlmann et al., 2009]. Stereo views (Figure 3b) show that layers within the western rim dip away from the crater interior, as expected if the beds predate Endeavour crater and were back-tilted by the impact. In contrast, bright layers bounding many Endeavour rim segments [e.g., McEwen et al., 2009, Figure 29] dip down toward the crater interior; we cannot clearly determine whether these layers predate or postdate the impact based on orbital images.

[charborob]

Great new images of the Odyssey boulders have come down, looking forward to the mosaics.

See this post.

(hope to learn how to make them myself one day).

Try, for example, Photoshop Elements. There are also other software, free and commercial, out there. A Google search will come up with plenty of information.

[fredk]

This paper associates phyllosilicates with polygonal lineations in HiRise imagery

Thanks for reminding us of that paper, Rocker. And Fig 3c in that paper shows the very polygons we're sitting next to right now!

So we know they'll be interested in them. And yesterday there was this cryptic message from Maxwell:

Driving Opportunity with Tara today. No real obstacles to avoid, but at least our path is zig-zaggy, a nice change of pace from the plains.

I can't wait to find out where we're going!

(Sorry I can't give the direct link to that post - I can't get them to work any more. Fixed.)

[Stu]

Colour mosaic, showing lots of rugged rocky goodness...

[stevesliva]

Are those clouds? I know the vertical stuff is dust, but there's a horizontal banding in there. Just fill?

[Stu]

Are those clouds? I know the vertical stuff is dust, but there's a horizontal banding in there. Just fill?

Lot of fill at the top, well spotted. Just look at the rocky stuff.

[fredk]

No time to check, but it looks like we've driven up to the lineations, and they're visible clearly in the navcams now:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...0M1.JPG?sol2742

[Stu]

Oooooohhhh....

[Stu]

Just to give a sense of scale of these features, here's a cloned Oppy shown next to them ...

[jamescanvin]

My version of the Kirkland Lake mosaic:



That is some impressive rock pile!

James

[ngunn]

[quote name='fredk' date='Oct 11 2011, 09:22 PM' post='179180']
"we've driven up to the lineations, and they're visible clearly in the navcams now"

Where are they in that image then? Can you point them out? Sorry not to have done my homework.

[mhoward]

Sol 2742 Navcam 360x80 left right anaglyph

[mhoward]

Because this area might just be of particular interest, here's a QuickTime VR of the Navcam panorama anaglyph (Sol 2742) (7.4 MB)

Edit: Worth noting: when you first open this, the view is pointing North. And the big inadvertent seam marks South.

[Bill Harris]

New enhanced crop of HiRISE image ESP_024015_1775 of the area surrounding the lineations:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r91/wil...ecular_city.png

--Bill

[fredk]

No time to check, but it looks like we've driven up to the lineations

I should've checked - we're still a ways short of the main lineations. Here's my best guess of the 2742 location - we appear to be sitting on the edge of a small depression/crater:

To my eye, the bright features in the middle of the navcam I posted look quite linear, but they're clearly much too close to be the main "tardis" features. The "tardis" features should be in this frame, roughly where I've circled:

Those nearby features may still be related lineations, just too small to see clearly on the hirise view.

[Jam Butty]

The 'back' of Stoughton,
Pancam sol 2736, L257 R2-1,
Colour flicker gif with a synthesized right green channel (a la mhoward).

[mhoward]

Colour flicker gif with a synthesized right green channel

Nice!

[CosmicRocker]

That is some impressive rock pile! ...

omg, that is sweet. I love this outcrop.

[CosmicRocker]

This is some of the most amazing imagery we have ever seen of such ancient rocks.

[Bill Harris]

The lineations are indeed not readily visible from ground level. The sparse detritus overlying them "shields" the view at low viewing angles from the ground and blocks less in the "vertical" view of aerials. And they are undoubtedly mineralized joints or fractures, a form of low-temperature hydrothermal activity (a new word to bandy about). Probably created as stress-relief features from the unloading of the surface as the Endeavour rim has eroded (see them all the time in Appalachia) but they may also be related to shock from the concussion of the Endeavour impact (or earlier impacts). They are probably quite common here, but typically are less-visible and covered with the detritus of weathered material whereas at the spot the loose stuff has evidently been transported away. Notice that the Rover tracks sometimes disappear without an obvious change in the albedo or texture of the surface, so there is something different happening here.

Remember that we got a "preview" of lineations when we first arrived at CY and rushed by those fine, reddish lineations on the way to Odyssey. At any rate, the mineralogy of these structures will give great insight into conditions of the time. And a prequel of what cousin Curiosity ought to be looking at in Gale crater.

--Bill

[Bill Harris]

I love this outcrop

Indeed-- there is so much happening here.

--Bill

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Stu]

Just for fun - but scale is correct - a couple of simulated HiRISE views of what Oppy would look like if she continued to head north, stopping at some scenic points along the way...

[fredk]

Nice post about the current mapping strategy at Lenda's blog.

Also some new maps, which split Shoemaker ridge into "A" and "B" (we're currently near B ).

[Bill Harris]

Neat. Does anyone know a public source for the topo map in Matt Lenda's late blog entry?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_1LEola0VQ/TpUK...labels_2742.png



'Twould be nice to be able to snag those from time to time...

--Bill

[Jam Butty]

Small outcrop on Shoemaker Ridge 'B'
Navcam flicker gif, sol 2742.

[CosmicRocker]

Neat. Does anyone know a public source for the topo map in Matt Lenda's late blog entry?...

Bill: I, too would like to find a source for that topo. We sometimes see some versions of that map at the Where are the Rovers now link at the JPL rover site. The OSU site is not very helpful in this regard.

[CosmicRocker]

Here — context image! Take it! You'll need it!

Matt: If you are going to post an image supporting a discussion about the need to find north facing slopes, you should either put a north arrow on your map, or you should follow the convention of making maps which have north at the top. Just a suggestion to make it easier for the rest us us to follow your line of reasoning.

[Bill Harris]

I wasn't able to find an "OSU" on the Web. The entity OSU is apparently a loose university consortium of photogrammetric genuises and GIS geeks and not a physical brick-and-mortar organization with a receptionist and front office. I suspect that they develop maps and charts on an as-needed contract basis.

But this is standard photogrammetric work, developing topo maps from stereo pairs. The hard part is making the grid of elevations from the aerials, but this work is done with the contours provided on the map. I'm retired but can probably call in favors on powerful gridding software-- once the elevations and map control points are entered into an autocad-like file it would be trivial to generate one's own topo maps. This can be a lot of work, but do-able as a hobby and I may try it for grins and giggles some day.

Thanks to Matt for sharing this with us, and I surely wish we had a similar topo map of the adjacent area to the NE...

--Bill

[Phil Stooke]

OSU - Ohio State University, where Dr. Ron Li and his group have been involved in rover location finding and mapping since the start of the mission!

Phil

http://shoreline.eng.ohio-state.edu/ron/_private/cv.html

[Bill Harris]

Yes, I saw Li's CV and know what OSU is and later found http://shoreline.eng.ohio-state.edu/ and even found this:

http://shoreline.eng.ohio-state.edu/album/...03/opp_2710.jpg

--Bill