[X] My Assistant

[algorimancer]

You are thinking of Elizabeth. Victoria had 9 kids and so while she may have been a prude she was not so much of a virgin. So, if the name does turn out to be prophetic, we can expect at least nine productive incursions.

You are of course correct... sorry, I always mix those two. Product of an American education, I'm sure

Let's hope it is indeed prophetic

[ustrax]

I would go for names related with Magellan's circumnavigation, (Victoria was the only ship that managed to return safe, with only 18 survivors aboard...), in this resumed text of the journey there are good examples for naming features:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1519magellan.html

Stu, nice to read here old friend!

[imipak]

Fram was used by Nansen in the Arctic and by Amundsen in the Antarctic, several years before Shackleton's expedition in the Endurance. I suppose it's not impossible that Fram was used as a tender for Endurance, but that's hardly its claim to fame.

Phil

I'd never heard of this vessel, and googled up this interesting site:
http://www.fram.museum.no/en/

Ob. relevant comment: seeing those images of the IDD in action reminded me that it's not just wheel problems that could slow Opportunity down. I'd be delighted to miss my bet of Sol 987 of course... I also just happened to get round to listening to the last audio update, and when asked how aggressive the driving strategy would be, Jim Bell said (words to the effect of) "Well, if we see a dinosaur bone or a supermarket trolley sticking out of the sand, we'll stop and take a look, but otherwise getting to Victoria is our top priority." I don't see any rusty metal baskets appearing so I wonder how the recent break fits into the strategy? Is it that Opportunity has to stop for a recharge after a few days' continuous driving, and took advantage of the break to do some closeup studies?

[Stu]

Okay, we all seem agreed that naming features after Magellan-related places, people etc is appropriate... let's start getting that map filled in! Can I open with suggesting we call outcrop/terrace T4 "Mount St Paul" (because of its apparrent height above the crater floor) and outcrop/terrace T2 "Thieves Island" because... well, because it's a cool name...

( Ustrax, good to see you back here too! Check out the new story here...)

[tty]

Doug said "Fram was a tender to the Endurance."

Fram was used by Nansen in the Arctic and by Amundsen in the Antarctic, several years before Shackleton's expedition in the Endurance. I suppose it's not impossible that Fram was used as a tender for Endurance, but that's hardly its claim to fame.
Phil

Fram was built for Nansen's expedition in 1893-96 when she drifted from northeastern Siberia across the Arctic Ocean to the North Atlantic. She was then used by Sverdrup for his expedition to the northern Parry Archipelago 1898-1900 and finally by Amundsen for his expedition to the South Pole in 1911-12.
She is arguably the must successful arctic exploration vessel ever built, but she was never a tender to Endurannce. Actually I think she is worth a larger crater than she got.
Fram is preserved in a museum at Bygdöy in Oslo and is definitely worth seeing if you ever visit Norway.

A few more ideas for Magellan-related names: Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Pigafetta

tty

[MizarKey]

Looking at the beautiful 3D view at http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/24/

Whew! I'm not nearly as worried about the apparent steepness of Victoria's walls...if you look at the 3d image of Endurance it looks like a monsterous drop too, but we all know what it was really like. Check out the attachment of Victoria side by side with Endurance.

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[Bob Shaw]

Another name to conjure with is, of course, 'Discovery'. Here she is in dock at Dundee in Scotland, with the Moon behind her masts.

She looked a bit different in the movie.

Bob Shaw

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[centsworth_II]

Whew! I'm not nearly as worried about the apparent steepness of Victoria's walls...

Right! With all those kilometers of convoluted rim, there must be some approachable areas. It can't all be impassable. Remember what fun it was to imagine and trace possible paths into Endurance after the first panoramic views from the rim came down? Now multiply that several fold! We'll have plenty of time to mull over potential paths before Opportunity is ready to actually enter the crater.

[djellison]

Great Britain should be in there somewhere Fantastic boat.

Doug

[SigurRosFan]

Looking at the beautiful 3D view at http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2006/01/24/

This was the third reference - besides me (Post #11) and Doug (Post #33).

Btw: Welcome to Mars, BEHSTeacher!

[Stu]

MizarKey, that 3D view is stunning... sorry Nico and Doug, missed your refs first time round... and I agree, it actually makes Victoria look a rather less threatening place than I'd previously thought. All the detail around and beneath the outcrops makes them look a lot less dangerous and menacing than on other images - in fact, V4 now looks like a very convenient smooth ramp down into the crater... crying out to be called "The Valley Without Peril"! Maybe not totally without peril, it still looks VERY steep...

[BrianL]

MizarKey, that 3D view is stunning... sorry Nico and Doug, missed your refs first time round... and I agree, it actually makes Victoria look a rather less threatening place than I'd previously thought. All the detail around and beneath the outcrops makes them look a lot less dangerous and menacing than on other images - in fact, V4 now looks like a very convenient smooth ramp down into the crater... crying out to be called "The Valley Without Peril"! Maybe not totally without peril, it still looks VERY steep...

Won't the south facing slope at V4 pose a problem during the winter, which I assume it will still be when it gets there given the current breakneck pace.

Brian

[RNeuhaus]

According to the present Oppy pace toward Victoria Crater, it would be VC at around 2nd week of July, that is Winter. The most probably, Oppy must look for any place with good slope that is northern facing (southern rim) for powering its solar panel. That place might be a mandatory. Besides, the southern rim has smoother slope and also of soft ground sand (sand deposition) that is very good for going down but very bad for climbing.

However, sure, the rover team, will make a very cool evaluation to decide to go down or not depending upon the possibility to get out of the VC after the winter.

Rodolfo

[jamescanvin]

Quite right - not quite sure where I got the tender idea into my head.

Perhaps you were thinking of the James Caird?

[DFinfrock]

Okay, we all seem agreed that naming features after Magellan-related places, people etc is appropriate...

Of course, you're right. Scientific probity, etc. etc. But I keep looking at that tiny little crater on the southern rim of Victoria. And I can't help but be reminded of who married "Miss Vicky" on the Tonight Show back in the 70's. Tiny Tim! Wouldn't that make a great name?

David