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Unmanned Spaceflight.com _ Opportunity _ Cape York

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 10 2011, 06:30 AM

It’s finally time for a new thread. THE thread, I would say.
It is now sol 2681 and after virtually one thousand sols, beginning on 1683 when Opportunity left Victoria for good, and also after more than 21km driving on these flat fields, this little rover and obviously the brave mission’s people behind, made landfall on Cape York.
A bunch of pictures and thumbnails are already on the ground (should be public in an hour or so) and the very limited data we can gather for the time being are just enough to guess a drive of around 60m. I’ve prepared a new picture to use as a map to follow this part of the mission and which I will update, as usual, on the route map thread once more data are available. Here’s a copy of it.


Use this thread for comments, discussions, mosaics, images result of activities at / after sol 2681 and keep using the http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=6897&view=getlastpost for posts related with stuff from before sol 2681.

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 10 2011, 07:39 AM

Welcome to Cape York and hello Odyssey crater! smile.gif


Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 10 2011, 07:41 AM

WOW, just WOW!

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 10 2011, 07:46 AM

...and the navcam


Posted by: MoreInput Aug 10 2011, 07:46 AM

Unglaublich!

Fantastic!
- 1000 Sols, and now we are here!
- The panorama is one of the best we ever had: We are on Cape York, see inside the Odyssey crater, with marvellous blocks and rocks, see the far crater wall of Endeavour in perfect sharpness, see the central mound ever than before.
- The pics cam down 9:35, and four minutes later we have a panorama from Astro0. Unbelievable.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-10/1P366202122EFFBMG3P2385R2M1.JPG
- WOW, WOW, WOW


Are we there yet?
We are there, yet!


laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: Sunspot Aug 10 2011, 07:54 AM

Interesting feature...there is a thin line of very bright material in this navcam view, bottom left

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-10/1N366201990EFFBMG3P0653L0M1.JPG

Posted by: Gladstoner Aug 10 2011, 07:55 AM

.

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 10 2011, 07:55 AM

I would have been faster but the phone rang! laugh.gif

The ground underfootwheel looks different (from the last 1000 sols or so!).

Front and Rear Hazcams


Posted by: MichaelT Aug 10 2011, 08:03 AM

What a day! Fantastic images! I am looking forward to more.

Unbelievable that Opportunity made it this far.

Congratulations to the rover team and everyone else involved!

Michael

Posted by: Gladstoner Aug 10 2011, 08:05 AM

.

Posted by: walfy Aug 10 2011, 08:06 AM

Breathtaking!



Posted by: Explorer1 Aug 10 2011, 08:08 AM

It's like the summit of Husband Hill, Victoria crater all over again, or heck, even landing day!

And the details on Endeavour's central mound-peak-thing...

Posted by: Gladstoner Aug 10 2011, 08:10 AM

.

Posted by: walfy Aug 10 2011, 08:21 AM

Those rocks and the background!



Can't get over that background! I've been wrong so many times, but that must be the big rock as seen on the HiRISE. It looks like a frog from this angle.



What a wonderful set of images tonight!

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 10 2011, 08:30 AM

Just one more to satisfy my inner artist before I head home.
Pancam of Odyssey Crater with added sky.



Congratulations to the entire MER team. YOU ROCK! biggrin.gif

Posted by: ugordan Aug 10 2011, 08:31 AM

Wow. Dare I say this is the most impressive vista Opportunity's eyes ever saw during the mission?

Posted by: neo56 Aug 10 2011, 08:43 AM

Absolutely fantastic !!! The landscape is gorgeous. It's really like a whole new mission.
I'm very excited by these bright lines of minerals in front of Oppy. Can't wait to know what it is.
And let's go to sniff the phyllos !!!
Again, congrats to all the MER team !

Posted by: climber Aug 10 2011, 08:46 AM

I agree, this is (yet another) landing day! And there are only 2 places to be: JPL and/or here on UMSF.
Thanks to MER team and to UMSF team.

Posted by: walfy Aug 10 2011, 08:49 AM

Just one more for tonight:




Extraordinary. It's like looking down at a shore of a great lake.

Congrats to all the engineers, scientists, rover drivers, everyone who had a hand in this!

Posted by: kenny Aug 10 2011, 09:18 AM

It looks so different at ground level, as we finally left the pavement we've been on for so long. Just look at those little tilted strata poking through at different angles, and the white "veins" already commented on.

And Cape York had almost no topography at all... we just drove right over it! The tone differences in the orbital photos we were speculating on gave a false impression of relief that did not exist. Quite a lesson in photo-interpretation.

Phil, I think you will still be impressed by the veiw of CY from the south, but not quite in the vertical way you thought?!

Anyway, I must also add my congratulations to the MER team on arrival. It made the BBC radio news in the UK. This place is like a whole new world...

Posted by: Floyd Aug 10 2011, 09:42 AM

The perfect new mission--fantastic views plus fantastic science targets--together at Spirit point. Well done MER team!!!!

Posted by: MoreInput Aug 10 2011, 09:56 AM

Even in the navcam view we don't see anything from Spirit Point. But I think they will make a photograph from it, later.

Posted by: Burmese Aug 10 2011, 10:17 AM

I suspect they will want to pull up just a bit closer, to where they can sniff at some of that material, while at the same time take one of those superpans to give themselves a big layout from which to plan the overall scientific program.

Posted by: neo56 Aug 10 2011, 10:27 AM

Here is the anaglyph of the sol 2681 Pancam view. The perspective is really impressive !

 

Posted by: Nix Aug 10 2011, 10:38 AM

fun-fun-fun smile.gif

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7994641@N08/6028291841/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Posted by: stevelu Aug 10 2011, 10:44 AM

Here we go

wOW

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-10/1N366201953EFFBMG3P0653R0M1.JPG

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-10/1P366202056EFFBMG3P2385L2M1.JPG
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-10/1P366202089EFFBMG3P2385L2M1.JPG

Posted by: Julius Aug 10 2011, 12:04 PM

QUOTE (Sunspot @ Aug 10 2011, 08:54 AM) *
Interesting feature...there is a thin line of very bright material in this navcam view, bottom left

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-10/1N366201990EFFBMG3P0653L0M1.JPG

Looking at this bedrock reminds me of sedimentary rock here in my backyard..the way they are stacked makes them remarkably similar to what I see on my sedimentary island in the med.....planet earth and i'm no geologist!!

Posted by: Ant103 Aug 10 2011, 12:07 PM

Just amazing !

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/Sol2681-pancam.jpg

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/Sol2681-pano.jpg

Astro0, with an extended sky it gave us an other dimension smile.gif.

Posted by: Julius Aug 10 2011, 12:21 PM

I just wonder what that white streak represents??

Posted by: belleraphon1 Aug 10 2011, 12:22 PM

Magnificent.... new mission on new terrain!

Craig

Posted by: nprev Aug 10 2011, 12:25 PM

What a thing to wake up to!!! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

Wish I had more time, but gotta go to work. Congratulations to the entire MER team!!!

Posted by: Julius Aug 10 2011, 12:33 PM

QUOTE (walfy @ Aug 10 2011, 09:49 AM) *
Just one more for tonight:




Extraordinary. It's like looking down at a shore of a great lake.

Congrats to all the engineers, scientists, rover drivers, everyone who had a hand in this!

Impressive view of the central mound!

Posted by: MahFL Aug 10 2011, 12:45 PM

QUOTE (kenny @ Aug 10 2011, 10:18 AM) *
And Cape York had almost no topography at all... we just drove right over it! The tone differences in the orbital photos we were speculating on gave a false impression of relief that did not exist. Quite a lesson in photo-interpretation.



Makes you wonder what we might see at Gale Crater....

Posted by: pospa Aug 10 2011, 01:00 PM

WOW! Now its obvious why this cater's name is Odyssey.
Did you know before that Odysseus voyage from Troy to Ithaca led through Meridiany Planum?
His side face is nicely visible at top center of http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-10/1P366202056EFFBMG3P2385L2M1.JPG . blink.gif

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 10 2011, 01:44 PM

Phil checking in from Medford, Nova Scotia (where the red sandstone cliffs and beach sand of the Minas basin look a bit like Victoria crater) - fantastic! This is a real treat.

Phil

Posted by: Fran Ontanaya Aug 10 2011, 01:47 PM

Congratulations to all the team! What a journey and what a destination! ohmy.gif

Posted by: JayB Aug 10 2011, 01:48 PM

laugh.gif http://opportunityendeavour.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-have-instituted-new-project-level.html laugh.gif

Matt does realize he might not be shaving for several years right?

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 10 2011, 01:52 PM

It's a bit like the first time you drive to the edge of the Grand Canyon and get out of the car. Nothing to say or do for now other than to just stare in awe.

Posted by: mhoward Aug 10 2011, 01:53 PM

2681 Pancam:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6029238528/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6029238518/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Posted by: djellison Aug 10 2011, 01:58 PM

QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Aug 10 2011, 06:52 AM) *
Nothing to say or do for now other than to just stare in awe.


Exactly. I never thought we'd make it. I even said trying was silly.

Never happier to be wrong.

Wow.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 10 2011, 02:09 PM

I have to say that this anaglyph and crop that walfy made is my favorite of the first day here at Cape York. I come from a day before panoramas when photography of vistas consisted of climbing over rocks and standing with one foot on a ledge to find the best composition of foreground/background that would fit in one frame. If we don't get a full set of filters of these pans I plan on adding color to this one.

 

Posted by: mhoward Aug 10 2011, 02:13 PM

Sol 2681 Navcam, facing east. (Sorry for the delay, it takes awhile to stare at these.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6028737489/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6028737487/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Posted by: mhoward Aug 10 2011, 02:30 PM

QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Aug 10 2011, 07:09 AM) *
I have to say that this anaglyph and crop that walfy made is my favorite of the first day here at Cape York.


Speaking of which, here's http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6029335680/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - it may work better.

Posted by: mhoward Aug 10 2011, 03:03 PM

QUOTE (Julius @ Aug 10 2011, 05:21 AM) *
I just wonder what that white streak represents??


Yeah - I'll second or third (or probably beyond) that. Really obvious http://nasa.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-10/1N366201990EFFBMG3P0653L0M1.JPG, and right behind us. (In other words, a short drive would put it in front of us...)

Posted by: Stu Aug 10 2011, 03:13 PM

Just got back from work. Did I miss anything? wink.gif

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 10 2011, 03:13 PM

QUOTE (pospa @ Aug 10 2011, 08:00 AM) *
WOW! Now its obvious why this cater's name is Odyssey.
Did you know before that Odysseus voyage from Troy to Ithaca led through Meridiany Planum?
His side face is nicely visible at top center of http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-10/1P366202056EFFBMG3P2385L2M1.JPG . blink.gif

It does have that Greek statue look to it. Let's see if the likeness holds up at different angles. laugh.gif


Posted by: fredk Aug 10 2011, 03:15 PM

Wow. I mean holy &*^^#*** (*&&*## $)*#. blink.gif blink.gif blink.gif

Somebody get the swear jar.

I think it's clear what this means. Ladies and gentlemen, a new mission has just landed successfully on a completely new part of Mars. Congratulations to the EDL team on what must be the smoothest landing ever! laugh.gif

It's been so long since we've been able to say what the *&%^ is that?! Seeing these bright veins takes me back to seeing the blueberries for the first time.

Wow.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 10 2011, 03:26 PM

QUOTE (Julius @ Aug 10 2011, 05:21 AM) *
I just wonder what that white streak represents??

In this sedimentary environment I can't imagine it being anything other than what we came for. Which tells me the streak will likely get wider as Opportunity climbs higher, ultimately tracing back to a large deposit of similar material on top of the nearest summit.

Posted by: micvoo Aug 10 2011, 03:30 PM

Absolutely stunning, and already looking forward to the next master pan...and master plan...

Posted by: ilbasso Aug 10 2011, 03:41 PM

We've been driving over featureless terrain for so long that it's really going to be hard to sit still and savor the surroundings. I can only imagine the excitement in the Mission Room as they once again have to strategize over "what do we look at first?"

Reminds me of when I was in college - my dad and I drove across the US and back in 9 days. It was supposed to be a leisurely trip, but it quickly became "how far can we drive in one day?" It got so ridiculous that we couldn't wait for half an hour in Yellowstone to see the next eruption of Old Faithful, because it would have cut into our drive time.

I'm ecstatic that Oppy made it to Endeavour. Even if we sit still for weeks at a time, the view will be worth it. I don't think I've been so excited about the view since we were at Burns Cliff 2400 sols ago!

Posted by: MoreInput Aug 10 2011, 03:51 PM

Official press release: http://marsrover.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20110810a.html

Are we there yet?
We are there!

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 10 2011, 03:55 PM

QUOTE (ilbasso @ Aug 10 2011, 11:41 AM) *
...they once again have to strategize over "what do we look at first?"
I was surprised they drove right over the plains/Cape York boundary. I imagine at some point we'll get a close look at it. And now there are those white veins, and of course the Odyssey ejecta, not to forget the basic surface of Cape York itself. All materials that perhaps Opportunity has never seen before in her seven year life on Mars! New mission indeed!

Posted by: fredk Aug 10 2011, 04:05 PM

As if starting a new (probably multi-year) mission isn't enough, http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21128254.100-mars-rover-reaches-rim-of-vast-ancient-crater.html presents some speculation about Iazu:

QUOTE
If it is still functioning a few years from now, the rover could set off for another, smaller crater called Iazu, with rocks that are just as old. "But holy smoly, that's like 15 kilometres away," nearly as far as the three-year trek to Endeavour, says Ray Arvidson... He is content to see Opportunity live out the rest of its days scrutinising rocks and capturing eye-popping vistas on Endeavour's rim. "That's a spectacular way to end the mission," he says.

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 10 2011, 04:07 PM

QUOTE (fredk @ Aug 10 2011, 12:05 PM) *
...speculation about Iazu...
I guess it's time to start a new thread of prospective routes. laugh.gif

Posted by: Pertinax Aug 10 2011, 04:27 PM

QUOTE (fredk @ Aug 10 2011, 11:15 AM) *
It's been so long since we've been able to say what the *&%^ is that?! Seeing these bright veins takes me back to seeing the blueberries for the first time.

Wow.


I was so excited this morning (while geeking out once again over looking at images on my phone that were taken at Endeavour only 12 hours earlier) when I saw those white streaks and speckles ahead of us. Even the different character of the ground underfoot was exciting. I second your comment completely!

I look forward to when we are able to get some additional filter sets on these bright areas! WAG: Nontronite?



-- Pertinax

Posted by: Stu Aug 10 2011, 04:31 PM

I caught my first glimpse of these incredible images on my phone too, sneaking a look at them at work in the staff room when I "went downstairs for something"... laugh.gif They looked pretty spectacular then, on the teeny-tiny screen, but now I'm home, looking at them properly... just beyond brilliant...!

Been working on those rocks over on t'other side of Odyssey...




ohmy.gif

Posted by: BrianL Aug 10 2011, 04:42 PM

QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 10 2011, 07:58 AM) *
Exactly. I never thought we'd make it. I even said trying was silly.


In fairness, you did say that before we had the benefit of HiRISE for the whole trek.

Posted by: Julius Aug 10 2011, 05:21 PM

I'm curious to see MI images of the new terrain.

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 10 2011, 05:25 PM

QUOTE (JayB @ Aug 10 2011, 06:48 AM) *
laugh.gif http://opportunityendeavour.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-have-instituted-new-project-level.html laugh.gif

Matt does realize he might not be shaving for several years right?

Another guy on the team is joining me. We're calling our beard campaign, "No-shoave Noachian."

So, as soon as we get off of CY... I'll consider shaving. tongue.gif

-m

Posted by: MoreInput Aug 10 2011, 05:31 PM

Just hope that Oppy won't get stuck on CY cool.gif

Posted by: Stu Aug 10 2011, 05:49 PM

Colourised portrait of Odyssey Crater...

http://twitpic.com/6400zr

Posted by: Nix Aug 10 2011, 05:59 PM

colourized ?? laugh.gif

Posted by: brellis Aug 10 2011, 06:08 PM

QUOTE
I even said trying was silly.
I remember your skepticism, Doug. It must be nice to admit you're wrong in this context smile.gif

What a great day! A new mission really does begin here.

Posted by: Stu Aug 10 2011, 06:09 PM

QUOTE (Nix @ Aug 10 2011, 06:59 PM) *
colourized ?? laugh.gif


Yeah, but in a martian way smile.gif

Posted by: Nix Aug 10 2011, 06:16 PM

I was thinking about the recent discussion on colorising.. Titan <-> Mars ..

Posted by: elakdawalla Aug 10 2011, 06:20 PM

Fredk, any chance your mystery men will make an appearance in this latest Navcam pan?

Posted by: mhoward Aug 10 2011, 06:33 PM

QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Aug 10 2011, 11:20 AM) *
Fredk, any chance your mystery men will make an appearance in this latest Navcam pan?


Yes, I don't know if the Mystery Men take requests, but I would love to see one standing on that big boulder.

Posted by: fredk Aug 10 2011, 07:32 PM

I really should be getting to the airport laugh.gif , but here it goes:


(Thanks to Ant for the background mosaic and Tesheiner for the location.)

Posted by: belleraphon1 Aug 10 2011, 08:03 PM

Today is bill paying day for me. Which I do online. Yet all I can do is stare at the desktop image of Odyssey and the inner plains of Endeavour. laugh.gif
Just want to fall into the image, ruffle the regolith with my fingers and bound around the boulders with the far rim in the backgound!

Cannot wait for the MI images. Suspect Oppy is still in the blueberry fields, but with new stuff interlaced on the plain. And those bright veins!

But really want Opportunity to go for the phyllosilicates as soon as possible. Then go for context.

Just wonderful (and guess I better do my bills ... or NO online access to Mars anymore)!

Craig


Posted by: Arkarch Aug 10 2011, 09:38 PM

Thank-you for the continuing ride Opportunity, JPL, and NASA.

From the immediate payoff of layered rock at landing, to the three (or more) successive advances to greater places - it has taken confidence, perseverance, and just plain guts to point to a new flag and drive the wheels off this rover.

And thanks to everyone here on the board. Keep'em images flying.

- now, what is that white streak out there?

Posted by: CosmicRocker Aug 10 2011, 10:00 PM

QUOTE (Sunspot @ Aug 10 2011, 02:54 AM) *
Interesting feature...there is a thin line of very bright material in this navcam view, bottom left ...

Finally, she has her feet on some new geology. I'd say those veins look like target #1 2, even if it isn't the smectite.

(Edit: Come to think of it, since the rock containing the veins is also brand new, I guess it would be target #1.)

Posted by: nprev Aug 11 2011, 12:09 AM

Finally home from work, and have reviewed the thread.

Doug, do you have a PayPal link for the swear jar? Actually, perhaps a bank wire transfer would be more suitable for THAT amount of money.

Wow.

Posted by: NickF Aug 11 2011, 12:17 AM

Here's my take on the sol 2681 L2 pancam images. I've combined L2/R2 imagery in a central frame to mask the missing data.


Posted by: lyford Aug 11 2011, 12:33 AM

Thanks to all the engineers and scientists who's genius, creativity and late nights have made this possible. MER has been a mission that just keeps giving! It is amazing to contemplate that just as this 90 day journey has stretched to many years, so will the data gathered drive academic research for decades and inspire a whole new generation of scientists and planetary explorers...

A special thank you to Steve Squyres and Jim Bell - your decision to open up the images to all of us in the "cheap seats" has led to an incredible sense of bonding with the exploits of these robots as they travel.

This outreach decision has fueled countless teachable moments amongst students, friends and family, it has fostered a community who cares about science and what is possible, it has spawned new friendships amongst us enthusiasts and it has launched careers. By inspiring us and igniting our imaginations, you have profoundly changed this world for the better. Your openness and generosity have set a high bar for other missions, and http://www.umsfawards.com/?p=34.

Who could imagine that the mainstream press would be using adjectives such as "plucky" or "hard working" to describe machines quietly making their way a few meters per day on a planet millions of miles away? Such words reflect the deep connection people have felt to MER, and that attachment is a direct result of your decision to let us ride along and see what you see, every sol of the way.

Thank you.

Posted by: Burmese Aug 11 2011, 12:50 AM

QUOTE (NickF @ Aug 10 2011, 06:17 PM) *
Here's my take on the sol 2681 L2 pancam images. I've combined L2/R2 imagery in a central frame to mask the missing data.


That's my favorite rendering of the view so far.

Posted by: eoincampbell Aug 11 2011, 02:14 AM

Thank you all again at UMSF for a memorable past couple of days...

Posted by: Gladstoner Aug 11 2011, 02:28 AM

.

Posted by: mhoward Aug 11 2011, 02:28 AM

Full right Navcam panorama for 2681-2682

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6030642239/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://mmb.unmannedspaceflight.com/MERB2681_2682NavcamRight.mov (8.6MB)

Posted by: NickF Aug 11 2011, 02:29 AM

QUOTE (Burmese @ Aug 10 2011, 07:50 PM) *
That's my favorite rendering of the view so far.


Thanks smile.gif It's a pleasure to contribute to this great forum.


Posted by: nprev Aug 11 2011, 02:39 AM

NickF, in your panorama it looks very much like a dust cloud is traversing the bottom of the crater! Is this the first Martian haboob we've witnessed?

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 11 2011, 03:19 AM

QUOTE (mhoward @ Aug 10 2011, 06:28 PM) *
Full right Navcam panorama for 2681-2681

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6030642239/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://mmb.unmannedspaceflight.com/MERB2681_2682NavcamRight.mov (8.6MB)

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

AWESOME


-m

Posted by: brellis Aug 11 2011, 03:19 AM

Re: NickF's pic -- If Endeavour crater is the size of the San Fernando Valley, California, I think I can spot the Ventura Freeway tongue.gif

Posted by: Zeke4ther Aug 11 2011, 05:48 AM

QUOTE (NickF @ Aug 10 2011, 07:17 PM) *
Here's my take on the sol 2681 L2 pancam images. I've combined L2/R2 imagery in a central frame to mask the missing data.

Awesome!

QUOTE (mhoward @ Aug 10 2011, 09:28 PM) *
Full right Navcam panorama for 2681-2682

Now that I have all of the oohs! and aaahh! out of my system, I can't wait to get to work, check out some MI's, and see what this place is really made of. smile.gif
There is some really fascinating geology waiting to be discovered here!
mars.gif

Posted by: CosmicRocker Aug 11 2011, 06:26 AM

I guess it is stating the obvious, but the bedrock here appears to be a planed off jumble of ejecta blocks.

Posted by: neo56 Aug 11 2011, 09:02 AM

A set of L257 of Pathfinder Mound taken on sol 2671 was released on the Exploratorium today.

 

Posted by: Stu Aug 11 2011, 09:27 AM

A look back at "Gibraltar", Oppy's recent MI target...



(posted here to allow more direct comparison with Cape York rocks and features when we start getting colour images)

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 11 2011, 10:07 AM

QUOTE (mhoward @ Aug 11 2011, 04:28 AM) *
Full right Navcam panorama for 2681-2682

In polar form.

Posted by: tdemko Aug 11 2011, 11:45 AM

QUOTE (CosmicRocker @ Aug 11 2011, 12:26 AM) *
the bedrock here appears to be a planed off jumble of ejecta blocks.


Hmmm, I'm not so sure, Tom. Here is a quick photo interpretation of a piece of Mike Howard's pan:



The unit the rover is on now seems like it could be a highly fractured eolian sandstone, maybe similar to the lower part of the Burns formation seen at Victoria and Endurance. Some of the fractures are filled with bright-looking minerals. Also intriguing are the horizontal features on the slope and crater floor in the distance. Here is a key of my interpretations:

red lines: large-scale trough cross bed foresets
black arrows: apparent sediment transport direction
yellow lines: mineralized sub-vertical fractures
blue lines: receding shorelines?!?!?!

Posted by: john_s Aug 11 2011, 02:02 PM

The nature of the contact between the sulfate sediments and Cape York is going to be a fascinating puzzle in field geology, which is probably solvable eventually, given the combination of Oppy's ground truth and the HiRISE and CRISM context. The contact certainly looks very peculiar. I'd like to have Oppy eventually inch its way across the contact, taking a downward-looking color pancam every six inches or something.

John

Posted by: ups Aug 11 2011, 02:15 PM

Wow, I can't believe we're finally 'there' -- what a long strange trip it's been.

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 11 2011, 02:23 PM

This armchair geologist is at a total loss. The only preconception I had of Cape York that may hold true is that the large blocks of Odyssey ejecta may yet turn out to be basaltic boulders. That and a scattering of blueberries indicating that concretion forming sulfate layers once covered Cape York. But have the sulfate layers been entirely eroded away? I can't wait to see what the MI and APXS will reveal!

The only thing I know for sure: When Opportunity moves to the edge of Odyssey, she will be sitting on the rim of a crater... on the rim of a crater!

Posted by: Stu Aug 11 2011, 02:34 PM

QUOTE (centsworth_II @ Aug 11 2011, 03:23 PM) *
When Opportunity moves to the edge of Odyssey, she will be sitting on the rim of a crater... on the rim of a crater!


...and when HiRISE takes its first pic of Oppy after landfall, it should look something like this...

http://twitpic.com/64ehoa/full


Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 11 2011, 02:54 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 11 2011, 10:34 AM) *
...should look something like this...
How tiny she is!
Looking at the http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/ of Oppy to Odyssey to CY to Endeavour, is like comparing a viral particle to a bacterium to a skin cell to a finger tip!

Posted by: Stu Aug 11 2011, 03:00 PM

That scale size demonstration is **brilliant**! Love things like that. blink.gif

Posted by: SteveM Aug 11 2011, 03:38 PM

Mini TES hasn't been used for a long time. The last I heard it was severely crippled by a dusty mirror, but theoretically functional.

Any chance it could be used to follow up on the CRISM phyllosilicate signatures? I imagine picking the signal out of the noise of the dust would be a real challenge.

SteveM

Posted by: Explorer1 Aug 11 2011, 04:40 PM

It's still covered, according to Emily's latest post.
It's doubtful they can clean it after so long.

Posted by: rschare Aug 11 2011, 04:55 PM

So, what instruments can they still use to determine the mineralogy of things now that we are here? Other than a close up picture. Are phyllosilicate's iron bearing so the Mossbauer can be used?

Posted by: SteveM Aug 11 2011, 04:56 PM

If Emily says "Mini TES ... is hopelessly contaminated" I'll take the situation as truly hopeless. sad.gif

Posted by: climber Aug 11 2011, 05:55 PM

QUOTE (rschare @ Aug 11 2011, 05:55 PM) *
So, what instruments can they still use to determine the mineralogy of things now that we are here? Other than a close up picture. Are phyllosilicate's iron bearing so the Mossbauer can be used?

Have a look at the end of Emily's blog here: http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00003137/

Posted by: kenny Aug 11 2011, 09:32 PM

QUOTE (mhoward @ Aug 11 2011, 03:28 AM) *
Full right Navcam panorama for 2681-2682

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6030642239/sizes/o/in/photostream/


Thanks for this wonderful pano, mhoward.

Looking around and comparing it with Tesh's map, I am especially struck by the appearance of Sutherland Point beyond the dark bay to the Right of the rover mast. You can see some subtle undulating topography in it which is so slight, compared with the prominent ridge appearance in the HiRISE map. Another example of how we were fooled by the orbital photos into thinking these crater rim features were much, much taller than they really are. How they can appear so prominent from above, yet be so negligible from gound level, is still pretty mystifying...

Posted by: Bobby Aug 12 2011, 03:46 AM

WOW is the best word to Describe what I'm seeing and good job everyone.

I have a few Questions?

1. I would like to know where the official Rim of Endevour Starts and when did we cross that point? Are there any overhead
shots showing the rim as a circular pattern? There probably is an image somewhere in UMSF and I missed it.

2. With the current degrading of certain science tools on Oppy. Does it take roughly 2 weeks to examine any rock now?

Thanks
Bobby

Posted by: Eutectic Aug 12 2011, 04:53 AM

QUOTE (Bobby @ Aug 11 2011, 09:46 PM) *
1. (snip) Are there any overhead shots showing the rim as a circular pattern?

NASA posts a good context image here:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20110608a.html

QUOTE (Bobby @ Aug 11 2011, 09:46 PM) *
2. With the current degrading of certain science tools on Oppy. Does it take roughly 2 weeks to examine any rock now?

The curium-244 used in the APXS has a half-life of 18.1 years, so integration times for it should not yet have doubled, everything else being equal. The Mossbauer, on the other hand, uses cobalt-57, which has a half life of 271.8 days. Since the date of launch eight years ago, that's 10.75 half-lives, reducing the source intensity by more than 1,722 times if my arithmetic is right, which I hope it's not. A measurement that took six hours might now take more than a terrestrial year, so they may be running it just long enough to get the bare minimum of a result above the background.

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 12 2011, 06:04 AM

QUOTE (john_s @ Aug 12 2011, 02:03 AM) *
Is it possible this fissure formed when Opportunity ran over the adjacent piece of rock and displaced it? We've seen similar things before.

Also, as Gibraltar was (I think) a pre-Cape York target, shouldn't it be in the "Post Conjunction..." thread? I understand why that thread was closed to encourage people to move to the new thread, but now that goal has been accomplished, shouldn't it be re-opened for posting of continued discussion of data from the long trek?

John

Completely right, John. Moved some posts and re-opened the thread.
Cape York related posts, here.
Gibraltar or earlier things, on the http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=6897&view=getlastpost, please.

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 12 2011, 06:11 AM

Today's drive moved the rover about 15m towards the SE to a point somewhere on the S or SW corner of Odyssey. I will update the map once the pictures are available.

Posted by: walfy Aug 12 2011, 08:32 AM

A little more of the crater's floor in view tonight, from the navcam.


Posted by: Juramike Aug 12 2011, 10:59 AM

Those rocks look really enticing ('specially that bright one on the right)...

Posted by: charborob Aug 12 2011, 11:34 AM

Navcam panorama from Oppy's current position:


Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 12 2011, 12:16 PM

QUOTE (Bobby @ Aug 11 2011, 10:46 PM) *
I would like to know where the official Rim of Endevour Starts and when did we cross that point?
Cape York is part of the Endeavour's exposed rim. Opportunity is now sitting on Cape York so Opportunity is now sitting on Endeavour's rim.

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 12 2011, 12:45 PM

Two views of 'big rock' on Odyssey's rim - animation.



NB: removed background to concentrate on the rock.

Posted by: Pertinax Aug 12 2011, 01:12 PM

QUOTE (Bobby @ Aug 11 2011, 10:46 PM) *
I would like to know where the official Rim of Endevour Starts and when did we cross that point? Are there any overhead
shots showing the rim as a circular pattern? There probably is an image somewhere in UMSF and I missed it.


The search tool (and Google) is your friend, and as a matter of respect and good forum etiquette they should be used thoroughly before asking a question - particularly if you suspect the answer is already here. wink.gif

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=6897&view=findpost&p=174953

There is no 'official' start to the rim per se, but from the link above I think you will be able to answer the question to your satisfaction.


-- Pertinax

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 12 2011, 01:26 PM

QUOTE (Pertinax @ Aug 12 2011, 08:12 AM) *
...There is no 'official' start to the rim per se, but from the link above I think you will be able to answer the question to your satisfaction.

I can't think of any more official start to the rim than the rim itself! Cape York is clearly part of the rim. On the crater side of Cape York you are within the rim of Endeavour, on the plains side of Cape York you are outside the rim of Endeavour. That the plains may be higher in elevation than Cape York has nothing to do with it. This is just my opinion, but as opinions go I think its on pretty solid ground.

Posted by: micvoo Aug 12 2011, 03:46 PM

QUOTE (Astro0 @ Aug 12 2011, 02:45 PM) *
Two views of 'big rock' on Odyssey's rim - animation. NB: removed background to concentrate on the rock.


Fascinating view of 'big rock'! From this angle the rock doesn't look to sit in a position the rover could navigate to, but I suppose there are plenty of other rocks to explore. I am so thrilled with the views we are seeing now and the stunning anaglyphs. Where around its current position would Oppy go next?

Posted by: climber Aug 12 2011, 04:15 PM

The other face of the Big Rock look accessible on the HiRise portion of the route map.
We'll see soon enough since we have no way to know what priority 1 target will be.

Posted by: mhoward Aug 12 2011, 04:35 PM

2683 Navcams:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6035304653/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6035303253/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Posted by: cIclops Aug 12 2011, 05:26 PM

QUOTE (fredk @ Aug 10 2011, 07:32 PM) *
I really should be getting to the airport laugh.gif , but here it goes:


I can't really be sure from this distance, but isn't that Bob Zubrin?

Posted by: Stu Aug 12 2011, 05:59 PM

QUOTE (cIclops @ Aug 12 2011, 06:26 PM) *
I can't really be sure from this distance, but isn't that Bob Zubrin?


Hmmm. Looks a bit too cheerful... wink.gif

I really hope Oppy tootles around the other side of Odyssey and takes a closer look at this bright rock...



Posted by: Stu Aug 12 2011, 06:20 PM

Thumbnailcolourovision version of Odyssey...



Can't wait for the full size versions...

Posted by: kenny Aug 12 2011, 06:42 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 12 2011, 06:59 PM) *
I really hope Oppy tootles around the other side of Odyssey and takes a closer look at this bright rock...


I'm sure she will... and there's another less accessible white one in the crater....

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 12 2011, 08:09 PM

QUOTE (kenny @ Aug 12 2011, 10:42 AM) *
I'm sure she will... and there's another less accessible white one in the crater....

We should exploring that ejecta field all next week and choosing a target to IDD, pending tactical decisions.

On that note, the drive on 2683 seemed to go shorter than I remember the RPs sequencing. I remember that we should have been perched about 5 meters from the southern rim of Odyssey. Clearly, we're not. I wonder why...

Posted by: brellis Aug 12 2011, 08:26 PM

As fun as vertical stretch is, it's nice to see tall things in the frame without that technique! smile.gif

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 12 2011, 08:29 PM

Well hello Cyclops, keeping an eye on Odyssey, are you?


 

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 12 2011, 08:44 PM

QUOTE (Matt Lenda @ Aug 12 2011, 10:09 PM) *
On that note, the drive on 2683 seemed to go shorter than I remember the RPs sequencing. I remember that we should have been perched about 5 meters from the southern rim of Odyssey. Clearly, we're not. I wonder why...

For whatever reason, the drive has "faulted". The post-drive hazcams (http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2011-08-12/1F366381669EFFBMHPP1254L0M1.JPG, http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/rear_hazcam/2011-08-12/1R366381735EFFBMHPP1354L0M1.JPG) correspond to these sequences.

02683::p1254::02::2::0::0::2::0::4::front_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp
02683::p1354::01::2::0::0::2::0::4::rear_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp

Posted by: brellis Aug 12 2011, 08:48 PM

In Ant's panorama from http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=7043&view=findpost&p=177300 in this thread, there is a second eye over there. Has that one been seen before?

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 12 2011, 08:59 PM

Navcam pan - not enough images for color yet

 

Posted by: Floyd Aug 12 2011, 09:05 PM

Brellis: Yes, you will have to go back to the earlier thread, but the second crater coming into sight was a big deal as it was lower on the far wall--meaning that we were starting to see better into the crater.

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 12 2011, 09:25 PM

QUOTE (brellis @ Aug 12 2011, 03:48 PM) *
In Ant's panorama from http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=7043&view=findpost&p=177300 in this thread, there is a second eye over there. Has that one been seen before?

You mean http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=6897&view=findpost&p=175904 which was immediately immortalized in Fredk's "what's this" post?
(First sighting of Cape York.)

What's this?

Posted by: brellis Aug 12 2011, 10:20 PM

Yes, 2centsworth. I had a feeling we'd seen that divot before.

Posted by: stevelu Aug 13 2011, 04:10 AM

QUOTE (Astro0 @ Aug 12 2011, 04:45 AM) *
Two views of 'big rock' on Odyssey's rim - animation.



NB: removed background to concentrate on the rock.


Guess it must be an illusion but there is something odd about how smallish bright-topped boulder - just to the right (our right) of the big one, & in front of a taller, completely dark-looking rock - changes with the shift in perspective.

Everything else just angles a bit, and the rock right in front of it scarcely changes at all, but the one I'm referring to suddenly appears much wider & in contact with big boulder. blink.gif

Is it just a thin, somewhat wall-like rock, seen edge-on in the first pic?


Posted by: monty python Aug 13 2011, 04:58 AM

QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Aug 12 2011, 03:44 PM) *
For whatever reason, the drive has "faulted". The post-drive hazcams (http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2011-08-12/1F366381669EFFBMHPP1254L0M1.JPG, http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/rear_hazcam/2011-08-12/1R366381735EFFBMHPP1354L0M1.JPG) correspond to these sequences.

02683::p1254::02::2::0::0::2::0::4::front_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp
02683::p1354::01::2::0::0::2::0::4::rear_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp


Hopefully the fault was due to some benign thing like tilt or time out.

I've got to admit I haven't looked at a hazcam for a while and boy do they look different now with all those thin shards in the soil!

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 13 2011, 06:50 AM

QUOTE (monty python @ Aug 12 2011, 08:58 PM) *
Hopefully the fault was due to some benign thing like tilt or time out.

Yeah, turns out it was benign. Sounds like the team wasn't worried about it, and they went along with planning today as such.

In any case, Oppy's healthy and hungry for more.

-m

Posted by: HughFromAlice Aug 13 2011, 11:32 AM

It's been exciting looking forward....... so just a quick look over our shoulder,as it were, courtesy of hazcams on Sol 2683 (Thurs 11th Aug)


Posted by: Oersted Aug 13 2011, 07:45 PM

Back on Titan smile.gif

Posted by: Sunspot Aug 13 2011, 08:45 PM

Odyysey

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 13 2011, 09:19 PM

QUOTE (Sunspot @ Aug 13 2011, 04:45 PM) *
Odyysey
He's referring to the color scheme.
(Titan on right.)


Posted by: ugordan Aug 13 2011, 09:46 PM

QUOTE (centsworth_II @ Aug 13 2011, 11:19 PM) *
(Titan on right.)

That's as realistic a representation of Titan's surface color as the left image is of Mars...

Posted by: brellis Aug 13 2011, 11:11 PM

oh, to see some rover tread marks on Titan! smile.gif

Posted by: HughFromAlice Aug 13 2011, 11:55 PM

QUOTE (Oersted @ Aug 14 2011, 05:15 AM) *
Back on Titan smile.gif


Back at Cornell smile.gif

Point taken! So I went to check Mars's 'true colours' at what I thought would be one of the best sources
http://pancam.astro.cornell.edu/pancam_instrument/true_color.html



Cornell Jpegs: Sol1597B_P2552_1_True_RAD_thumb Hill and sky 2 and Sol2302B_P2575_1_True_RAD.
Always worthwhile getting feedback. Even though it was a quick post colourizing a single Jpeg, I can see where I can improve.

Posted by: HughFromAlice Aug 14 2011, 12:09 AM

QUOTE (centsworth_II @ Aug 14 2011, 06:49 AM) *
color scheme (Titan on right.)


Despite the range on the Cornell site this was just about as close to 'true' as I could get. Fair comparison, but don't blame me for the Titan colour scheme!!! blink.gif



Cornell Jpeg: Sol1882B_P2572_1_True_RAD Small Rocks on Rockbed

Posted by: stevelu Aug 14 2011, 05:26 AM

This seems to be the only full pancam image that's come down from the latest batch. I love it.

So, is this lumpy terrain on Cape York NWish in relation to Odyssey...?


Posted by: djellison Aug 14 2011, 05:34 AM

I thought we were done with the colorization debate.

If you were in any doubt.....we ARE done with the colorization debate.

Don't make the admin's jobs even harder - please.

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 14 2011, 06:04 AM

QUOTE (stevelu @ Aug 14 2011, 03:26 PM) *
So, is this lumpy terrain on Cape York NWish in relation to Odyssey...?


No that's Stu's 'Approach Crater' or officially Mariner crater IIRC.
It's a view from a couple of weeks ago now.
Seems so long ago doesn't it?! wink.gif

Remember you can easily check the date of an image by using: http://www.greuti.ch/oppy/html/filenames_ltst.htm

Drop the file name into the link image code box and hit the decode button. It will give you Sol number, date, time etc.
A handy tool for all UMSF'ers that it's useful remind people of every now and then.

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 14 2011, 07:56 AM

And ... Zap! We were teletransported to Gusev! blink.gif
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-14/1N366547264EFFBMJYP0676L0M1.JPG

Now seriously, today's drive was just a short 10m bump perhaps finishing the move that faulted on sol 2683.

Posted by: Stu Aug 14 2011, 11:02 AM

Actually, when I saw that big, flat-topped slab of rock I was reminded more of the "http://www.spacetoday.org/images/Mars/PathfinderTwinPeaks.jpg" Sojourner explored in Ares Valles...




Posted by: kenny Aug 14 2011, 01:16 PM

Yes, memories of the Rock Garden where there was a similar-looking flat rock with a pale upper surface, called Flat Top.
Seeing two flat white rocks here at Odyssey crater makes me wonder if a block has been split along the line of one of those white veins we saw earlier poking out the ground.

Posted by: fredk Aug 14 2011, 01:48 PM

Hmmm... Yeah, sounds like those bright, flat tops would make great IDD targets...

Posted by: stewjack Aug 14 2011, 01:49 PM

QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Aug 14 2011, 02:56 AM) *
... teletransported to Gusev!

I would describe it differently
.
Spirit traveled to a hill of older material poking through the newer broken lava floor of Gusev. It was speculated that those hills were the remnants of a large buried crater rim. If true, then you could say that Opportunity is just following in the footsteps of Spirit.

Jack

Posted by: mhoward Aug 14 2011, 03:28 PM

Sol 2685

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6042078580/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6041531451/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Posted by: OWW Aug 14 2011, 04:43 PM

Are these boulders part of Cape York or the Odyssey-impactor? Wouldn't IDD-ing them be a waste of time if they are from the impactor? unsure.gif

Posted by: Oersted Aug 14 2011, 05:12 PM

It's funny, mhoward, your upper thumbnail looks as if the landscape has just been lifted up on a flap... <conspiracy theory alert:> It hasn't!

Posted by: Stu Aug 14 2011, 05:57 PM

The Tracking site IDs "Big Rock" as "ridout"... can't find any references to a place of that name... anyone any ideas?

Anyway, when the full size images come back it's going to look like this, but better...


Posted by: siravan Aug 14 2011, 06:24 PM

Well, there is Ridout lake: http://travelingluck.com/North+America/Canada/Ontario/_6122256_Ridout+Lake.html#local_map

Posted by: stevesliva Aug 14 2011, 06:59 PM

Bastardization of redoubt.

[Edit] And that gets me here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redoubt_Volcano

Posted by: Eutectic Aug 14 2011, 11:02 PM

QUOTE (OWW @ Aug 14 2011, 10:43 AM) *
Are these boulders part of Cape York or the Odyssey-impactor? Wouldn't IDD-ing them be a waste of time if they are from the impactor? unsure.gif

My money would be on the boulders not being part of the impactor. It's hard to know if Odyssey was formed by a small impactor at high velocity or a larger impactor at a slow velocity, but usually impactors for larger craters don't survive intact.

Odyssey is elongated southwest-northeast and the boulders are on the southeast side with a hint of ejecta on the northwest side. One interpretation of this is an oblique impact, possibly from the southwest. For other examples of "butterfly" ejecta see http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20030904a and http://www.lroc.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/126-Asymmetric-Ejecta.html . If the Odyssey impactor arrived at a low angle from the southwest it might itself be ejecta from another crater in that direction, in which case the impactor would represent the Martian crust, just from an unknown location. So sniffing the boulders might be informative in any case. To me they have a blocky appearance consistent with fractured basalt -- hopefully, we'll know more soon.

Posted by: MarkG Aug 15 2011, 12:48 AM

The Odyssey crater ejecta may reflect the strength of the rock impacted on, and the crater does bisect some sort of boundary. See this item in the "Geomophology of Cape York" thread...
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=6667&view=findpost&p=177528
[I, er, have an excusably good impression of that other statement...]

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 15 2011, 01:06 AM

QUOTE (Astro0 @ Aug 14 2011, 07:04 AM) *
Remember you can easily check the date of an image by using: http://www.greuti.ch/oppy/html/filenames_ltst.htm

Drop the file name into the link image code box and hit the decode button. It will give you Sol number, date, time etc.
A handy tool for all UMSF'ers that it's useful remind people of every now and then.


Very useful link, thanks,
it sure beats doing it the hard way.


Sol 2683.
Animated left/right navcam images of the boulders at Odyssey...

Posted by: Explorer1 Aug 15 2011, 02:31 AM

Flicker gifs are great for those of us without red-blue glasses, thanks! (and doing it in browser manually just isn't the same...)

Posted by: dilo Aug 15 2011, 09:18 AM

Today's new PanoCam Odyssey images combined in crossed and anaglyphs:




..and a spectacular color view (contrast inside crater has been enhanced):


Posted by: neo56 Aug 15 2011, 10:06 AM

Pancam color view taken on sol 2686 and Navcam panorama made with pictures from sols 2685 and 2686.

 

Posted by: kenny Aug 15 2011, 10:23 AM

QUOTE (dilo @ Aug 15 2011, 10:18 AM) *
..and a spectacular color view (contrast inside crater has been enhanced):

Beautiful.....a classic little ejecta field. Almost looks like Taurus Littrow.

Posted by: mhoward Aug 15 2011, 01:10 PM

More 2686 Navcams

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6045174339/sizes/o/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6045723150/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Posted by: ugordan Aug 15 2011, 01:24 PM

My color version of the two frame pano:


Posted by: Stu Aug 15 2011, 01:42 PM

QUOTE (ugordan @ Aug 15 2011, 02:24 PM) *
My color version of the two frame pano:


Beautiful, just beautiful. I wish you'd do more with the Mars images, it helps beginners like me create more accurate images, seeing how you do it.

Posted by: ugordan Aug 15 2011, 01:49 PM

Well, I always kinda figured "why bother?" when others have a several-year head start on me when it comes to MER raw images. Plus, there's already plenty of folks who post their own color work.

Posted by: Stu Aug 15 2011, 01:58 PM

Always a place for your MER work here, I'm sure everyone will agree with me when I say that.

And I may have a "head start", but I still feel like a kid messing about on the big kitchen table with a Ł1.99 box of crayons whenever I see your images! laugh.gif

Posted by: brellis Aug 15 2011, 02:42 PM

My eyes are spoiled rotten visiting this thread every day. smile.gif

Posted by: Stu Aug 15 2011, 03:07 PM

3D view of "Ridout"...


Posted by: algorimancer Aug 15 2011, 03:16 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 15 2011, 09:07 AM) *
3D view of "Ridout"...

It may be my imagination, but I think I'm seeing lineations (layering?) in two different orientations in Ridout, a slanty one on the left side and more horizontal one on the right side.

EDIT: Upon further consideration, it appears that what I'm seeing is a big foreground rock and a similar sized rock behind it (perhaps the same rock broken into two parts). In this case, the lineations are probably consistent.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 15 2011, 03:18 PM

Shamelessly stealing Stu's image to bring out detail in the shadows.


 

Posted by: marsophile Aug 15 2011, 03:32 PM

The blueberry lag deposit seems to have disappeared now that we are on Cape York proper.

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 15 2011, 04:03 PM

I was thinking the same thing.

Here is an L2,5,7 false colour image of the ground near Oppy on Sol 2686 (I pushed the levels a bit to make the different rock types stand out more).
Not many blueberrys to be seen.


Posted by: Stu Aug 15 2011, 04:38 PM

Colour mosaic of surface... waaay too big to post here...

http://twitpic.com/66ls51

Just open up the full size version and marvel at the different shapes, sizes and colours of rocks... smile.gif

Posted by: john_s Aug 15 2011, 04:50 PM

QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Aug 15 2011, 08:18 AM) *
Shamelessly stealing Stu's image to bring out detail in the shadows.


It looks to me from this distance that Ridout's a breccia (i.e., a glued-together agglomeration of angular chunks of older rocks). Maybe not surprising, given that it's part of the rim of a 25-km impact crater...

John

Posted by: Floyd Aug 15 2011, 05:52 PM

The blue stones look very familiar, the pink/rose (Stu image) purple (J B image) stones look like something new... Anyone remember seeing rose-colored stones before? Could these be someting interesting???? laugh.gif

[edit] Maybe I just have on rose colored glasses looking for new types of rocks.

Posted by: walfy Aug 15 2011, 07:10 PM

Beautiful rocks out there:





A welcoming place to sit, if there was fresh air to breath.

Posted by: tedstryk Aug 15 2011, 07:29 PM

QUOTE (ugordan @ Aug 15 2011, 02:49 PM) *
Well, I always kinda figured "why bother?" when others have a several-year head start on me when it comes to MER raw images. Plus, there's already plenty of folks who post their own color work.



Excellent work, Ugordan. Come on now Stu, I've been trying to lead Gordan into working on the old images I like (and used to process), not other new images laugh.gif

Posted by: Nirgal Aug 15 2011, 08:59 PM

QUOTE (walfy @ Aug 15 2011, 09:10 PM) *
Beautiful rocks out there:



one should avoid using too much superlatives, but that second 'rock-garden', contrasting lovely with the wide open plains and mountain against the distant backgrund is definitely among the most scenic mars anaglyphs yet smile.gif

Posted by: jasedm Aug 15 2011, 09:48 PM

I still can't quite believe we're here after that epic journey! Fantastic views, well worth the wait.
Thanks to all for the continuing anaglyphery and vista-stitching wizardry.

Posted by: ugordan Aug 15 2011, 10:00 PM

QUOTE (tedstryk @ Aug 15 2011, 09:29 PM) *
Come on now Stu, I've been trying to lead Gordan into working on the old images I like (and used to process), not other new images laugh.gif

Ted, I'll leave the joys (and smells!) of interplanetary dumpsters to you for the time being. laugh.gif

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 15 2011, 10:40 PM

Sol 2685
Navcam flicker gif of the flat-topped rock,
don't know if it has a name yet.



Posted by: monty python Aug 16 2011, 12:59 AM

Wow! I just looked at the august 15th pancams and my head is spinning. My inner python is comming out!

Does that flat top rock have a thin crust of light material on top? Does the rock point back to the rock garden and a light colored path in it? Are the light colored shards in the soil pieces of the same stuff?

I need to see this stuff.

Monty.

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 16 2011, 04:41 AM

QUOTE (monty python @ Aug 15 2011, 05:59 PM) *
Wow! I just looked at the august 15th pancams and my head is spinning. My inner python is comming out!

Does that flat top rock have a thin crust of light material on top? Does the rock point back to the rock garden and a light colored path in it? Are the light colored shards in the soil pieces of the same stuff?

I need to see this stuff.

Monty.

Smells like an IDD target to me. wink.gif

-m

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 16 2011, 08:13 AM

QUOTE (Jam Butty @ Aug 16 2011, 12:40 AM) *
Sol 2685
Navcam flicker gif of the flat-topped rock,
don't know if it has a name yet.



Tisdale.

Unless I'm reading too much on Matt's post right above and on http://twitter.com/#!/marsroverdriver/status/103282143324676096: "Today we're pulling up near Tisdale rock (~22cm tall) so we can fine-approach Wednesday, then IDD it."

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 16 2011, 01:18 PM

Thanks Tesheiner.
I hope you're right, can't wait to have a closer look.

Also from Scott Maxwell...
"I think we're going to IDD the side of Tisdale, not its top. Can't remember the last time we did that -- Wopmay, in Endurance Crater?"
http://twitter.com/#!/marsroverdriver

Posted by: tanjent Aug 16 2011, 01:48 PM

It probably makes sense to give priority to the cake, but I'm sure they'll get around to IDD'ing the icing as well.

Posted by: Ant103 Aug 17 2011, 02:03 AM

In waiting for new pics, Sol 2686 color pan :
http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/Sol2686-pancam.jpg

This give me the strong feeling to be … at Spirit site in Gusev blink.gif

Posted by: nprev Aug 17 2011, 02:48 AM

smile.gif

In North America, anyhow, if you move in any direction 300 km or so, you will encounter new types of terrain, and new geology.

Same phenomenon seems to apply to Mars. Oppy is (as usual) fortunate to be relatively near such a boundary.

<Sets seat to fully reclined position, prepares to enjoy the ride...>

Posted by: brellis Aug 17 2011, 03:39 AM

Innocent comment about Sol 2686 color pan: it looks like some of those rocks plunged into the sand. Is that possible?

edit, more specifically -- it looks like some of the rocks in Ant's post#185 plunged into the sand pretty recently. The tall skinny rock to the right about 5-10% off-center in the distance looks like it has its own little pile of ejecta.

Is that possible, and if so have we seen anything like this?

Posted by: eoincampbell Aug 17 2011, 04:40 AM

Yes Brellis, I ask for clues in that beautiful scene too, on when Odyssey made all that mess of CY. More recent than Conception perhaps ?

Posted by: elakdawalla Aug 17 2011, 04:50 AM

QUOTE (brellis @ Aug 16 2011, 08:39 PM) *
Innocent comment about Sol 2686 color pan: it looks like some of those rocks plunged into the sand. Is that possible?

I don't see it. When I see something steep with some stuff at the base of the steep slope, my general assumption is that some weathering process attacked the rock, and the stuff at the base is chunks that fell off of it.

What I do find striking is how much rockier this area is than anything Opportunity's seen before. So far in the mission, everywhere you see rock, except in ejecta from very recent craters, the rock has been scoured flat by wind and sand. This new rock is more resistant to Meridiani's sandblasting winds -- maybe not as hard as the Gusev basalts, but harder than Meridiani sulfates. They better be cautious with the RAT!

Posted by: Eutectic Aug 17 2011, 05:05 AM

QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Aug 16 2011, 10:50 PM) *
When I see something steep with some stuff at the base of the steep slope, my general assumption is that some weathering process attacked the rock, and the stuff at the base is chunks that fell off of it.

And the big rocks might be protecting the smaller rocks near them from the full erosive effect of the wind.

Posted by: kenny Aug 17 2011, 08:27 AM

I think the point for me is not the detritus at the foot of those rocks, which would be normal as has been explained, but the fact that 3 of them in that view appear to be taller than they are broad (at least from the angle we view them). I imagine pieces of elongated ejecta thrown violently onto a HARD surface would generally bounce until they came to rest lying flat. But if they impact on a SOFT surface they would embed at the random orientation they were in when they hit.

So I'm just wondering if those ones embedded themselves in a regolith surface which had been fluidised, perhaps by the shock of the main imapct which created the crater. Soil fluidisation happens in earthquakes etc.

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 17 2011, 08:36 AM

A couple of hazcam pics from sol 2688 are available, like this one.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2011-08-17/1F366822341EFFBMK3P1254L0M1.JPG.
Nevertheless, I think the small rock next to the IDD is *not* the planned target Tisdale, basically because the drive seems to have "faulted".

 

Posted by: Oersted Aug 17 2011, 09:18 AM

Those faulted drives we've had a couple of recently I take to be the result of more careful fault triggering parameters, rather than trouble with the hardware. Good to see the drivers babying their priceless asset in the beginning of this new mission!

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 17 2011, 11:26 AM

Nothing new here,
just a reworking of the Sol 2685 pancam images of Ridout for those without 3D glasses...


Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 17 2011, 01:02 PM

QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Aug 17 2011, 01:36 AM) *
A couple of hazcam pics from sol 2688 are available, like this one.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2011-08-17/1F366822341EFFBMK3P1254L0M1.JPG.
Nevertheless, I think the small rock next to the IDD is *not* the planned target Tisdale, basically because the drive seems to have "faulted".

Is there a sequence ID attached to the image name?

-m

Posted by: Floyd Aug 17 2011, 01:29 PM

QUOTE (Matt Lenda @ Aug 17 2011, 09:02 AM) *
Is there a sequence ID attached to the image name?



1F366822341EFFBMK3P1254L0M1.JPG

Posted by: Deimos Aug 17 2011, 01:29 PM

P1254 -- front_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp -- from sol B/2688 14:25:21 HLST.

Posted by: Stu Aug 17 2011, 02:31 PM

"Tisdale" (2?) in colour...


Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 17 2011, 02:38 PM

Back at last! I'm a bit late, but here's my circular version of the panorama mhoward posted earlier.

Phil


Posted by: kenny Aug 17 2011, 02:52 PM

Spectacular! ... the south end of Cape York in all its glory... see how we just drove right over it with hardly a bump.

This reveals nicely how the tones at the rim of Cape York that we interpreted from HiRise as being relief, appear in fact to be bedrock colour variations and dust layers. What a lovely place...

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 17 2011, 03:01 PM

QUOTE (Matt Lenda @ Aug 17 2011, 03:02 PM) *
Is there a sequence ID attached to the image name?

-m

That's part of "MER Images 101" isn't it? wink.gif

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 17 2011, 03:22 PM

Stu and Phill...
impressive images guys.

Here is a new animation of Tisdale
pancam sol 2688


Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 17 2011, 03:24 PM

QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Aug 17 2011, 07:01 AM) *
That's part of "MER Images 101" isn't it? wink.gif

wink.gif

QUOTE (Deimos @ Aug 17 2011, 05:29 AM) *
P1254 -- front_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp -- from sol B/2688 14:25:21 HLST.

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Likely something benign again, like tilt limits or... dragon limits...


-m

Posted by: neo56 Aug 17 2011, 05:11 PM

Panorama taken by the Navcam on sol 2688. I guess that the crater on the right is Odyssey.

 

Posted by: walfy Aug 17 2011, 05:57 PM

Tilsdale:


Posted by: ugordan Aug 17 2011, 06:01 PM

"Tisdale" again:

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ugordan/sol2688_2.jpg

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 17 2011, 06:49 PM

Well. there's lots to see here! But I noticed something on top of the Cape as well. Linear markings, apparently slightly raised relative to their surroundings. These look like the polygonal ridge sets referred to as cemented fractures at Gale crater. We've seen features like this on a mini scale ever since Eagle crater (Shark's Tooth at Shoemaker's Patio), but these are macro examples. Worth a look?

Phil


Posted by: Oersted Aug 17 2011, 07:50 PM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Aug 17 2011, 03:38 PM) *
Back at last! I'm a bit late, but here's my circular version of the panorama mhoward posted earlier.


One of the best "circulars" of this mission, I think, because it really gives meaning to the climb onto CY, which turned out to be not much of a climb...

Posted by: Fran Ontanaya Aug 17 2011, 09:11 PM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Aug 17 2011, 08:49 PM) *
Worth a look?


That's roughly where CRISM detected the strongest clays signal. Since Oppy hasn't stopped to sniff around yet, I guess they won't take too long before going for the jackpot.

Posted by: serpens Aug 17 2011, 10:05 PM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Aug 17 2011, 06:49 PM) *
.... These look like the polygonal ridge sets referred to as cemented fractures at Gale crater. .......


Unloading joints?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 17 2011, 11:17 PM

Quite possibly, but filled with minerals precipitated out of groundwater.

Phil

Posted by: walfy Aug 17 2011, 11:48 PM

On the way to the cemented fractures to the north (if that's what they are and if indeed we're going there), this feature could be looked over, circled here in yellow:



Probably just craters, maybe from the same family, or one crater with material sloshed across the middle. Or maybe pits of some other origin?

Posted by: stevelu Aug 18 2011, 12:53 AM

QUOTE (walfy @ Aug 17 2011, 03:48 PM) *
or maybe pits of some other origin?


That's where the Morlocks are waiting... unsure.gif

Posted by: stevelu Aug 18 2011, 01:04 AM

QUOTE (walfy @ Aug 17 2011, 03:48 PM) *
Or maybe pits of some other origin?


But, a bit more seriously, are we learning enough about all this geology & sometimes acidic H2O percolation to speculate about possible cave-forming processes yet? Other than lava tubes I mean.


Posted by: Juramike Aug 18 2011, 01:59 AM

The rocks are sulfates, not carbonates...the acidity of water shouldn't affect dissolution of sulfates.
(Hmmm, maybe I need to think about this one a bit....).

Anyone?

Posted by: Juramike Aug 18 2011, 02:30 AM

Geeked out and learned stuff:

Heavy metal sulfates have no pH dependence on solubility at low pH (acid conditions). [http://www.geochem.geos.vt.edu/bgep/pubs/95%20dove%20and%20czank_geochimica%20cosmochimica%20acta.pdf]

General info on mineral weathering (pH dependence about halfway through)
http://home.wlu.edu/~kuehns/Geo311/F09/Weathering4.pdf

Fun facts:
The absorption of high notes in seawater is due to MgSO4 in the ocean. Low notes transmit better. (NaCl has no effect)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_sulfate

The highest hydrated magnesium sulfate known, MgSO4*11H2O is thought to have dissolved away and formed the empty vugs seen in Meridiani Planum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridianiite

Posted by: marsophile Aug 18 2011, 02:38 AM

QUOTE (Juramike @ Aug 17 2011, 06:59 PM) *
The rocks are sulfates, not carbonates...the acidity of water shouldn't affect dissolution of sulfates.


A stronger acid will displace a weaker acid. Sulfuric acid is more corrosive, but AFAIK hydrochloric is a stronger acid, so theoretically a hydrochloric acid bath could replace sulfates by chlorides the way sulfuric acid replaces carbonate by sulfates.

Posted by: Juramike Aug 18 2011, 02:52 AM

It will be a subtle effect.

Comparison of solubility of CaCO3 vs. CaSO4 on addition of HCl solution:

(pH and solubility): http://www.chemistry.nmsu.edu/studntres/chem116/notes/solubility.html

QUOTE
Thus, calcium carbonate is much more soluble in acidic solution, whereas the solubility of calcium sulfate is only slightly affected.


Posted by: serpens Aug 18 2011, 04:32 AM

QUOTE (stevelu @ Aug 18 2011, 01:04 AM) *
... are we learning enough about all this geology & sometimes acidic H2O percolation to speculate about possible cave-forming processes yet?


I don't think we have seen any evidence of sulphate dissolution in all our time at Meridiani have we? So wouldn't any liquid have been a saturated solution?

Posted by: Bill Harris Aug 18 2011, 07:21 AM

Very indirectly and speculatively, Serpens. Some think that the Anatolia features are caused by dissolution of the evaporitic sandstone along joint fractures. No proof, really, but then, no dis-proof.

--Bill

Posted by: MoreInput Aug 18 2011, 07:30 AM

For those who just want to have a short illusion of viewing 3d I built a primitive web site with java script, which does the flickering for you.
Just store the attached HTML file to your local disk and open it in your browser. If you click on the button "flicker" the view should permanently switch between left and right picture.
It does a good job on Chrome. On Firefox it seems, that the pics should have been downloaded before into the cache. Doesn't work on IE.

In the two text boxes you copy the URL to the original pancam/navcam/hazcam pictures.
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631661EFFBMJYP2585L2M1.JPG
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631750EFFBMJYP2585R2M1.JPG

Or use the exploratorium server:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-17/1P366814425EFFBMK3P2591L2M1.JPG
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-17/1P366814518EFFBMK3P2591R2M1.JPG

For the NASA server you can also use the HTML url, it will be changed to JPG automatically:
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631750EFFBMJYP2585R2M1.HTML

 flicker.html ( 1.43K ) : 357
 

Posted by: centsworth_II Aug 18 2011, 12:43 PM

QUOTE (Juramike @ Aug 17 2011, 09:59 PM) *
The rocks are sulfates, not carbonates...
Or more likely some form of altered basalt. The sulfates that (probably) once covered Cape York are mostly or entirely eroded away.

Posted by: Beauford Aug 18 2011, 02:51 PM

QUOTE (Juramike @ Aug 17 2011, 07:59 PM) *
The rocks are sulfates, not carbonates...the acidity of water shouldn't affect dissolution of sulfates.
(Hmmm, maybe I need to think about this one a bit....).

Anyone?



Sulfates generally do not exhibit pH dependent solubilities because the sulfate anion is a very weak base. In other words, its very hard to protonate sulfate. Perchlorates, nitrates and halides are also very weak bases, but the solubilities of their metal salts are often high because they are monovalent anions. Sulfides, carbonates and phosphates are often pretty insoluble due to their high charge, but all are also good bases. For sulfides, carbonates and phosphates (for example) exposed to acidic water, a set of simultaneous equilibria involving protonation and dissolution steps are present. If the pH is specified, it's not horribly difficult to solve these simultaneous equilibria for the concentrations of each ionic species, even if multiprotic events occur.

Hoping this doesn't bring back bad memories of college chemistry!

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 18 2011, 03:59 PM

QUOTE (MoreInput @ Aug 18 2011, 12:30 AM) *
For those who just want to have a short illusion of viewing 3d I built a primitive web site with java script, which does the flickering for you.
Just store the attached HTML file to your local disk and open it in your browser. If you click on the button "flicker" the view should permanently switch between left and right picture.
It does a good job on Chrome. On Firefox it seems, that the pics should have been downloaded before into the cache. Doesn't work on IE.

In the two text boxes you copy the URL to the original pancam/navcam/hazcam pictures.
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631661EFFBMJYP2585L2M1.JPG
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631750EFFBMJYP2585R2M1.JPG

Or use the exploratorium server:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-17/1P366814425EFFBMK3P2591L2M1.JPG
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/pancam/2011-08-17/1P366814518EFFBMK3P2591R2M1.JPG

For the NASA server you can also use the HTML url, it wil be change to JPG automatically:
http://marsrover.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631750EFFBMJYP2585R2M1.HTML

This is genuinely awesome.

-m

Posted by: Explorer1 Aug 18 2011, 05:35 PM

Yes, thanks so much!
I remember one flicker gif when Spirit went down Husband hill years ago, but nothing since then. I can never find 3D glasses anywhere and crosseyed is just annoying.

Posted by: Leither Aug 18 2011, 05:57 PM

QUOTE (MoreInput @ Aug 18 2011, 08:30 AM) *
For those who just want to have a short illusion of viewing 3d I built a primitive web site with java script, which does the flickering for you.


Superb! I've been really enjoying the flickering views being posted lately by Jam Butty et al - now I can choose my own! Well done MI!

Also works on Safari. smile.gif smile.gif

Posted by: mhoward Aug 18 2011, 08:35 PM

"Munro" (sol 2688).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6057209272/sizes/l/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6057208742/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6057209668/in/photostream

Posted by: Ant103 Aug 18 2011, 08:45 PM

Tisdale in colors, Sol 2688 :

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/1P366811419ESFBMJYP2590LCoul.JPG

Posted by: Gladstoner Aug 18 2011, 08:49 PM

.

Posted by: john_s Aug 18 2011, 09:02 PM

Munro looks almost like a scoracious basalt lava with big xenoliths in it. This could be *very* interesting...

John

Posted by: Ant103 Aug 18 2011, 09:17 PM

Same rock, in anaglyph :
http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/1P366811419ESFBMJYP2590L_RCoul_ana.JPG

And crossed-eyes :
http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/1P366811419ESFBMJYP2590L_RCoul_crossedeyes.JPG

Posted by: MoreInput Aug 18 2011, 09:21 PM

Small update of the flicker page: Setting size and flicker frequency is possible.


 flicker.html ( 1.76K ) : 383
 

Posted by: Ant103 Aug 18 2011, 10:15 PM

Munro rock ("Munro ?" "Yes ?" "You ROCK !" "ow")

Hmmm…

So, this rock, in colors, anaglyph and crossed-eyes. Enjoy smile.gif.

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/1P366810101ESFBMJYP2589LCoul.JPG

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/1P366810101ESFBMJYP2589LCoul_ana.JPG

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/1P366810101ESFBMJYP2589LCoul_crossedeyes.JPG

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 18 2011, 10:17 PM

QUOTE (MoreInput @ Aug 18 2011, 10:21 PM) *
Small update of the flicker page: Setting size and flicker frequency is possible.

Wow, thanks MI... briliantly simple bit of software,
seems to be working well in Firefox 6

Munro and Tisdale in colour
L456 Sol 2688



Posted by: Stu Aug 18 2011, 10:24 PM

This rock might not be going to win any beauty competitions, but it sure is fascinating...



Posted by: ugordan Aug 18 2011, 10:25 PM

You'll never guess which rock...

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ugordan/Munro_L456_4.jpg

Posted by: serpens Aug 18 2011, 10:46 PM

Thanks Ant. Brilliant.

Posted by: walfy Aug 18 2011, 11:16 PM

Looks like Munro's the current theme! What a strange conglomeration of rock! I wonder what it would do if you kicked it – shatter in pieces or hold its own.


Posted by: marsophile Aug 18 2011, 11:47 PM

Makes me think of a pile of dried-up debris left after a tsunami.

Posted by: Floyd Aug 19 2011, 02:50 AM

QUOTE (john_s @ Aug 18 2011, 05:02 PM) *
Munro looks almost like a scoracious basalt lava with big xenoliths in it. This could be *very* interesting...
John

John or other experts, could one of you give us non-planetary geologists a paragraph mini course with some definitions/descriptions and why this could be *very* interesting---thanks in advance.

Posted by: PDP8E Aug 19 2011, 05:13 AM

here is that rock...(again)



... it looks like a shatter-cone in Dedham Pudding-stone

Posted by: Explorer1 Aug 19 2011, 05:42 AM

Floyd:
Xenolith means it may have rocks from other places embedded in it, so it's two (or more) birds with one stone (no pun intended); saves travel time nicely for Oppy.
That's the limit of my geology though....

Posted by: CosmicRocker Aug 19 2011, 05:52 AM

I'd call it a breccia, though I can see the possibility of John's xenoliths. Tisdale also has a similar colors and texture, though not quite as decrepit, so it could be the same lithology.

Posted by: elakdawalla Aug 19 2011, 05:56 AM

"Xenolith" doesn't necessarily mean other places. Xenoliths are common in extrusive igneous rocks. Lava flowing up from underground can tear off and carry away chunks of rock from the walls of its conduits; these chunks of "country rock" don't melt before the lava solidifies. So you can have lava from some deep source incorporating chunks of rock from anywhere in the crust through which it flowed.

Still, I gotta say I read John's post and I was all, "what, you can say all that from one low-res JPEGgy color photo?" smile.gif

Posted by: neo56 Aug 19 2011, 09:56 AM

The sundial of Oppy on sol 2688, 11h12 LT. The top of the gnomon makes me think of Titan rolleyes.gif

 

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 19 2011, 10:39 AM

Getting closer to our target. Here's the latest navcam picture.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-19/1N366996044EFFBMKSP1962L0M1.JPG

For me it resembles a Nimitz class' aircraft carrier. Should we call it USS Tisdale? tongue.gif

BTW, this last drive faulted again after 4m. huh.gif
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2011-08-19/1F367000442EFFBMKSP1254L0M1.JPG
02690::p1254::02::2::0::0::2::0::4::front_haz_fault_pri15_4bpp

 

Posted by: Stu Aug 19 2011, 10:43 AM

Back at Santa Maria (how long ago that seems now!) we saw a rock called "Terreros" which seems, to me, to have something of a look of Munro. I'm thinking of the bluish material that appears to be "splashed" over it (not saying it was splashed, that's just a visual reference, ok?)





Posted by: algorimancer Aug 19 2011, 12:52 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 18 2011, 04:24 PM) *


One interesting thing... note what looks like two prominent round "holes" in the nearest end (more obvious in the 3D versions). There's more of about the same size visible elsewhere as well. My best guess is that these were once gas-filled vesicles which were exposed when the edge fragmented -- which I guess reinforces the idea that this is a chunk of basalt.

[EDIT: Incidentally, why doesn't the image included in the quote appear? Seems like in the past this worked nicely, but more recently the result is as above]

Posted by: djellison Aug 19 2011, 02:00 PM

QUOTE (algorimancer @ Aug 19 2011, 04:52 AM) *
[EDIT: Incidentally, why doesn't the image included in the quote appear? Seems like in the past this worked nicely, but more recently the result is as above]


Nothing on the forum software has been changed.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 19 2011, 02:13 PM

I thought we didn't want the image to appear in the quote!

Phil

Posted by: djellison Aug 19 2011, 02:16 PM

Well - quite. I certainly don't want to see it.

Posted by: algorimancer Aug 19 2011, 03:13 PM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Aug 19 2011, 08:13 AM) *
I thought we didn't want the image to appear in the quote!...

I think sometimes, when there is potential confusion as to which image is being referred to, it is beneficial to include the image in the quote. Generally we edit the quote to include only the relevant bits being referred to -- sometimes this would include an image. Last time I did this I went to the effort of saving a local copy of the image and re-uploading it with the post, but in this instance it wasn't that critical.

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 19 2011, 03:21 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 19 2011, 02:43 AM) *
Back at Santa Maria (how long ago that seems now!) we saw a rock called "Terreros" which seems, to me, to have something of a look of Munro. I'm thinking of the bluish material that appears to be "splashed" over it (not saying it was splashed, that's just a visual reference, ok?)



Oooooooooooo la la.

Some of the folks here are looking at the commonalities between Tisdale 2 and Bagua. (Can't remember where Bagua was...)

-m

Posted by: mhoward Aug 19 2011, 03:54 PM

Bagua was the big rock she swung by on sol 2551, just after leaving Santa Maria.

 

Posted by: Ipparchus Aug 19 2011, 03:56 PM

Guys, do you know what happened to the excellent site: marsgeo.com ? Has it just changed name or is it deleted?

Posted by: Stu Aug 19 2011, 04:37 PM

Bagua...



No, Munro is definitely uglier. laugh.gif

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 19 2011, 05:22 PM

I'm sure you mean "ugly" in the geologist's sense: "way more awesomer" (sic)

-m

Posted by: ZLD Aug 19 2011, 05:52 PM

QUOTE (Ipparchus @ Aug 19 2011, 10:56 AM) *
Guys, do you know what happened to the excellent site: marsgeo.com ?


You mean http://www.marsgeo.astro.cornell.edu/?

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 19 2011, 07:47 PM

Here's aircraft carrier Tisdale 2 as seen today via pancam L2 filter.


Posted by: walfy Aug 19 2011, 08:02 PM

Part of the aircraft carrier in 3D. To my untrained eye it looks like the white surface is just a thin coating on top.


Posted by: walfy Aug 19 2011, 08:08 PM

Aft of Tisdale:



Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 19 2011, 08:10 PM

As seen on the navcam. tongue.gif


Posted by: empebe Aug 19 2011, 08:18 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 10 2011, 05:31 PM) *
I caught my first glimpse of these incredible images on my phone too, sneaking a look at them at work in the staff room when I "went downstairs for something"... laugh.gif They looked pretty spectacular then, on the teeny-tiny screen, but now I'm home, looking at them properly... just beyond brilliant...!

Been working on those rocks over on t'other side of Odyssey...




ohmy.gif
ee lad tha's dun it agin !

The guy who has trouble with anaglips had to step back in case he fell down t'oil (xlation the hole).

The whole lot has sandbagged me, especially as I'm getting in one (hopefully) never ending stream 'cs I was away from the machine for a week.

You people are quite brilliant.

Thanks to you all, and the MIR crew and the guys who build this little buggy and the guys who launched it and the guys who paid tax dollars to get it all there.

Who'd have thought it when I first started as a trainee Telecommunications Technician in 1955 when fast comms was 45 Words/minute.


Mike.



Posted by: walfy Aug 19 2011, 08:38 PM

QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Aug 19 2011, 12:10 PM) *
As seen on the navcam. tongue.gif



OMG, one of the best yet. laugh.gif

Posted by: jamescanvin Aug 19 2011, 08:39 PM

Tisdale in colour

http://www.nivnac.co.uk/mer/index.php/b2690


Posted by: walfy Aug 19 2011, 08:45 PM

Not trying to outdo Tesheiner's splendid Tisdale Carrier, but I couldn't resist this one. My niece eating pineapples on Mars:


Posted by: volcanopele Aug 19 2011, 09:01 PM

Reminds me of caliche

Posted by: climber Aug 19 2011, 09:17 PM

QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Aug 19 2011, 10:10 PM) *
As seen on the navcam. tongue.gif

You probably mean navycam blink.gif

Posted by: DFinfrock Aug 19 2011, 10:58 PM

QUOTE (Ant103 @ Aug 18 2011, 11:15 PM) *
Munro rock ...in colors, anaglyph and crossed-eyes. Enjoy smile.gif.


Ant,
I really appreciate the crossed-eyes stereo versions. Those always look better to me than the red/blue anaglyphs.
Merci!

David

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 19 2011, 11:42 PM

Tisdale_2
Sol 2690 flicker gifs


Posted by: Ant103 Aug 19 2011, 11:44 PM

And… hmmm… Yet, another Tisdale wink.gif

http://www.db-prods.net/marsroversimages/Opportunity/2011/Sol2690-pancam.jpg

Posted by: empebe Aug 19 2011, 11:47 PM

Phew ! smile.gif
When I posted my rambling thanks I was on page 6, and hadn't quite grasped what 12 more pages could hold.
Ye gods and little fishes - I am the 5000.
Thank you all, I will bathe my red eyes, got to bed and dream of eating pineapples on an aircraft carrier. smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif
Mike

Posted by: eoincampbell Aug 19 2011, 11:53 PM

Has there been a reference to Tisdale_1 ?
Could the team have spotted a post-split sibling ?

Posted by: serpens Aug 19 2011, 11:59 PM

QUOTE (Ipparchus @ Aug 19 2011, 03:56 PM) *
Guys, do you know what happened to the excellent site: marsgeo.com ? Has it just changed name or is it deleted?

It just disappeared during the trek to Victoria. One day it was there and the next the site name was up for grabs. It was an absolutely outstanding explanation and analysis of the early MER findings and now a reminder of the ephemeral nature of internet based information. I wish I had copied it page by page.

Posted by: Stu Aug 20 2011, 01:27 AM

This MUST be the most fascinating rock Oppy's come across in a long, long time...


Posted by: Nocturne Aug 20 2011, 05:42 AM

QUOTE (serpens @ Aug 19 2011, 03:59 PM) *
It just disappeared during the trek to Victoria. One day it was there and the next the site name was up for grabs. It was an absolutely outstanding explanation and analysis of the early MER findings and now a reminder of the ephemeral nature of internet based information. I wish I had copied it page by page.


Some portions may be recoverable http://web.archive.org/web/20070127023707/http://www.marsgeo.com/


Posted by: kenny Aug 20 2011, 07:11 AM

QUOTE (kenny @ Aug 14 2011, 02:16 PM) *
Seeing two flat white rocks here at Odyssey crater makes me wonder if a block has been split along the line of one of those white veins we saw earlier poking out the ground.


http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=25257

It looks like there might be a counterpart to Tinsdale laying on the ground further north.



Posted by: walfy Aug 20 2011, 08:07 AM

Tisdale foredeck just came down.


Posted by: walfy Aug 20 2011, 08:29 AM

I think this is the view left of Tisdale now, contrast cranked up to boost 3D effect (more uniformly a dull gray, otherwise). There's a stepped, lighter-toned rock back there, partly submerged, with the two big darker-toned rocks on top of it. Very interesting.


Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 20 2011, 10:56 AM

QUOTE (eoincampbell @ Aug 20 2011, 01:53 AM) *
Has there been a reference to Tisdale_1 ?
Could the team have spotted a post-split sibling ?

This is Tisdale 1.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 20 2011, 01:17 PM

My guess, Tisdale is the rock, 1 and 2 are target spots on it.

Phil

(EDIT: Apparently I was McStooken)

Posted by: Tesheiner Aug 20 2011, 01:52 PM

Tisdale 1 and 2 were named for the first time on these imaging sequences from sol 2686.

02686::p2584::27::4::0::0::4::2::10::pancam_tisdale_1_L257R2
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631544EFFBMJYP2584L2M1.JPG

02686::p2585::27::4::0::0::4::2::10::pancam_tisdale_2_L257R2
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/2686/1P366631661EFFBMJYP2585L2M1.JPG

On a different matter, I saw this reference to the "faulted drives" on the http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_opportunityAll.html#sol2682:

QUOTE
On Sol 2688 (Aug. 16, 2011), the planned approach drive stopped early because the rover's visual odometry could not measure progress accurately due to a lack of visual features in the camera field of view.

Glad to know it was due to somethink so benign instead of a HW related issue.

Posted by: Stu Aug 20 2011, 03:55 PM

'Lack of visual features', eh? What a shame they didn't have a whopping big flat-topped rocky slab...thing...right in front of them...

smile.gif

Posted by: Matt Lenda Aug 20 2011, 04:37 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 20 2011, 07:55 AM) *
'Lack of visual features', eh? What a shame they didn't have a whopping big flat-topped rocky slab...thing...right in front of them...

smile.gif

smile.gif

We didn't aim the cameras that way during that particular drive.

It's also that the turns were too big and there was a lack of features to detect a change from in the last image that the rover took.

After tonight, pending a successful drive -- and I'm telling you, the RPs yesterday really pulled some heroics to sequence it -- we'll have close-ups of the left side of Tisdale 2. I smell a week of IDD! Cool part is, I'm on shift through Wednesday. Sweet.

-m

Posted by: mhoward Aug 20 2011, 04:53 PM

Coool.

Something a little different: a 100(-ish) degree wide perspective view of the Navcam images from sol 2690. One thing that's more apparent to me in the anaglyph version is, behind Tisdale 2 there's what looks like perhaps a similar rock so eroded that all that's left is a light-colored pile. Tisdale 1.5? Anyway I recommend the anaglyph version.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6062576288/sizes/o/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6062026487/sizes/o/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6062577466/sizes/o/in/photostream/

And since it looks like it's going to be a while (maybe forever?) until the last data dropouts are fixed in the sol 2685-2688 Navcam panorama, here's a sort-of-final version with some holes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6062565290/sizes/o/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6062018301/sizes/o/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6062563176/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Posted by: Stu Aug 20 2011, 05:39 PM

Looks like a chunk on the left there split right off...




Posted by: Stu Aug 20 2011, 06:45 PM

Tisdale...


Posted by: nprev Aug 20 2011, 07:41 PM

Magnificent, Stu!

I am VERY anxious to see the mineralogical analysis of this beautiful little beast.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 20 2011, 08:20 PM

A bit of context - mhoward's pan (hole patched from the other pan) in circular form:




Phil

Posted by: kenny Aug 20 2011, 08:28 PM

August 21st is the anniversary of the date in 1770 when Cape York, the most northerly point in Australia, was named by Capt James Cook, after Prince Edward, the Duke of York. He was a brother of King George III, who would not be very popular in the US a few years later.

Posted by: Oersted Aug 20 2011, 09:04 PM

Thanks for the perspective, Kenny.

- From the deck planks of the HMS Endeavour to the edge of the crater Endeavour in little more than a quarter-millenium: the opportunities for exploration have changed, but the spirit of discovery is unvarying. - Western science is a Grand Endeavour indeed!

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 21 2011, 02:04 AM

Odyssey rock garden
navcam sol 2690


Posted by: eoincampbell Aug 21 2011, 03:42 AM

Thanks Jam Butty, works well with iTunes cool.gif

Posted by: kenny Aug 21 2011, 06:50 AM

QUOTE (Jam Butty @ Aug 21 2011, 03:04 AM) *
Odyssey rock garden
navcam sol 2690


Very nice, and as previoulsy speculated, is that the other half of the Tinsdale white-layer sandwich sticking out of the soil there?

Posted by: Gladstoner Aug 21 2011, 08:41 AM

.

Posted by: Stu Aug 21 2011, 08:42 AM

...and down to work...




Posted by: walfy Aug 21 2011, 08:55 AM

Nice shot of OPpy's tracks, after having spun around to get the arm on the target. Driving in reverse for miles across the plains, then a quick celebratory doughnut in the dirt!

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/rear_hazcam/2011-08-21/1R367178060EFFBMLVP1312R0M1.JPG

Posted by: Jam Butty Aug 21 2011, 01:19 PM

QUOTE (kenny @ Aug 21 2011, 07:50 AM) *
Very nice, and as previoulsy speculated, is that the other half of the Tinsdale white-layer sandwich sticking out of the soil there?

The white stuff in the ground definitely seems similar to the white stuff on top of Tisdale 2,
but the rock they refer to as Tisdale 1 is out of shot to the right.

I think it is the rock in the upper right of this navcam shot, sol 2692
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2011-08-21/1N367169354EFFBMLVP1964L0M1.JPG
Tisdale 1





QUOTE (walfy @ Aug 21 2011, 09:55 AM) *
Nice shot of OPpy's tracks, after having spun around to get the arm on the target. Driving in reverse for miles across the plains, then a quick celebratory doughnut in the dirt!

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/rear_hazcam/2011-08-21/1R367178060EFFBMLVP1312R0M1.JPG

Nice driving...
Oppy is definitely showing off
laugh.gif

Posted by: climber Aug 21 2011, 01:39 PM

QUOTE (Stu @ Aug 21 2011, 10:42 AM) *
...and down to work...

Thanks Stu. Looks like another specimen of Meridianii Opportunity

Posted by: mhoward Aug 21 2011, 02:41 PM

Nice drive! (2692)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6065692488/sizes/o/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6065142773/sizes/o/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marscat/6065693670/sizes/o/in/photostream/

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