Ultreya Abyss Options

[Bill Harris]

Finally, Spirit's making some progress towards Larry's Leap. It'll be refreshing to see different topography for a change.

One item I'm curious about and I've seen only a few messages here on it. What is the general concensus here about the feature called the "Ultreya Abyss"? The orbital images don't show much: there _is_ a low albedo feature there but I can't say that it is a opening. Early in the mission, I recall that Spirit was to go to Ultreya after contacting the West Spur but those plans changed by the time she got to Columbia Hills. I imagine that the planners wanted something different than the basaltic plain and wanted to examine layered exposures.

--Bill

[dot.dk]

If they eventually will reach the Summit of Husband Hill we may have a look at it

[Pando]

The so-called 'Abyss' has created some stir among fans in markcarey.com blog, but I don't think NASA is too excited about it or they would be on their way there already. It seems to be simply a darker-colored sand collected downwind which is in the shadow of the mountain. If you do some comparisons from orbital images of Bonneville crater vs. the 'Ultreya', there isn't anything exciting there. The appearances are very similar and we all know now what Bonneville looks like (sorry ustrax)...

[mook]

Yes, I have to agree. Ustrax's images (particularly the ones detailing the proposed aquifiers for the abyss) are rather fanciful. As for why NASA changed their minds regarding their proposed route, IIRC it was because of the drop-off in power that Spirit was receiving required them to be on a north-facing slope, preferably with an uptilt. The current path satisfies both requirements to maximise the lower solar energy of the Martian winter.

[mike]

I suppose it's possible that the dark area is indeed an 'abyss' of some kind or another.. but I think it's unlikely. That said, I do think we'll find out eventually, probably from Spirit. Why would dark sand collect all in one place, anyway? Heck if I know..

[CosmicRocker]

Early in the mission, I recall that Spirit was to go to Ultreya after contacting the West Spur but those plans changed by the time she got to Columbia Hills.  I imagine that the planners wanted something different than the basaltic plain and wanted to examine layered exposures.

I'm coming in late, but I'm glad you brought that up. I've wondered about it for a long time. I don't recall that they said they were particularly interested in the low albedo area, although that interested me.

I thought the original plan was to head around to the southeast of West Spur, and climb Lookout Rock to see if there were layered deposits thought to be in the vicinity.

[Nix]

I think Spirit might have a look at it from above Husband Hill if the slopes permit but I'm equally interested in the crater right in front of Spirit, I think it'd be a 200-meter drive and the floor looks quite interesting although the terrain looks a bit rough..

[Bill Harris]

Thanks for the feedback. I've wondered about Ultreya for some time but wanted to get "another perspective" on it. From the MOC images the area does look compelling, but too much of a gamble to have gone to directly. Evidently, what they found on the Gusev plain was different that what was originally suspected and the Columbia Hills were more appealing. I think thay the expected to see more evidence of an ancient lakebed but found a basalt plain.

It would be a shocker if they found a big black Monolith in Ultreya once Spirit was able to look into it...

--Bill

[bugs_]

I think the stay in the bottom of endurance crater helped opportunity. The
lower areas seem to be warmer and have higher air pressure. We saw frost
and that may have been what cleaned opp's solar panels.

Spirit could use a therapeutic stay at the bottom of the abyss - get the
panels cleaned off and warm up a bit. If indeed the abyss is deep then Spirit
may get a chance to steal the limelight back from Opportunity for a bit.

[CosmicRocker]

I had the original, planned route map from last May, but for some reason I was not able to upload it with my last post. So, I found the link to the press release image. The caption there describes why they were interested in the so-called inner basin. I assume the low-albedo area east of Lookout Point in this image is the Ultrea Abyss you are talking about.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/pre.../20040521a.html

Now, it looks as if we'll get an even better overview of the area from Larry's Leap.

[Bill Harris]

Yes, that is the earlier route that I mentioned. Larry's Lookout looks eastward and Husband Hill will be between the lookout and the Inner Basin. If Spirit goes to the top of Husband Hill and/or south of this hill she might be able to look into the Inner Basin.

Of course this is one of a gazillion enigmas on Mars, we'll get around to it eventually...

--Bill

[CosmicRocker]

I really don't think it's an enigma. The low-albedo area is interesting, but most likely just an area of dark soil. The Inner Basin they speak of is the entire low area E and SE of Lookout Point, including Home Plate and some of the potentially layered rocks.

I've been eager to see this area for a lot of reasons, but I don't expect we'll see a cave or deep hole in the dark area.

I think we'll see some intriguing outcrops that will entice Spirit down into the basin.

[djellison]

Of course - that area is S / SE facing, and so will have to wait till summer before being visited. To venture there now would, I imagine, kill Spirit very quickly indeed - a matter of a few sols.

Doug

[azstrummer]

I'm curious why everyone believes that basin contains darker soil. My first impressions looking at the pictures was that the area was simply in shadow when photgraphed from the orbiter. I would assume that any subsequent imaging was attempted when lighting conditions were much the same.

I've seen a number of orbital pictures from Mars that were 3D anaglyphs. Why haven't we seen any from the two landing areas in 3D? Obviously they have the offset shots to be able to have created the perspective views. What I'd truly love is for ESA to image one or both of the landing spots. Has its orbit simply not taken it over those areas yet?

[Nix]

Don't know about the dark soil, we'll have to see. There are more dark patches in the crater 'on top' of Columbia Hills.

It would be great if Mars Express turned its cameras at the Mer landing sites but there has been a Nasa anaglyph of Spirit's location. Don't know for sure for Opportunity.

MSSS