Phoenix - spring images, HiRISE views of Phoenix after the long, long winter Options

[Phil Stooke]

Doug just said in another thread that he was looking for Phoenix in the new images and couldn't find it. Well, I love a challenge. So here it is:

Close-up:

(REMOVED - SEE LATER POST)

Context:

(REMOVED - SEE LATER POST)

Note that map-projected HiRISE images at this latitude are in polar stereographic projection, not a cylindrical projection. North is at the left.

You might not believe this, but by blinking layers like Clyde Tombaugh I think I can match numerous points, not just the hardware.

EDIT: I was a bit off. Correct locations are shown below.

Phil

[djellison]

I had a go blinking layers, but didn't have any luck - good job on that one. It'll be interesting to see if there were any more pre-safe-mode images. Otherwise we might be in for a bit of a wait for new ones.

[Sunspot]

WOW those images are so grainy.

[Phil Stooke]

Yes, low light levels and hazy atmosphere made them very low contrast except for ice patches. Later images will be a lot better.

Phil

[ilbasso]

Looks good to me. I can see some of the same crack patterns in both photos.

[centsworth_II]

If a meter or two of frozen CO2 formed, I'm surprised that it would have disappeared already.

[Phil Stooke]

(Sorry Doug - I just noticed this thread should have gone in the Phoenix section... move it if you like)

Phil

[elakdawalla]

I moved it. Well spotted, Phil! I wondered when somebody was going to give that challenge a try. I'll admit I gave up pretty quickly

--Emily

[Phil Stooke]

Well spotted indeed! Good job indeed! Turns out I was wrong! After a more careful look I discovered the correct location nearby. To avoid duplication I'm posting the new images here, and I'm going to edit out the other images. When the two sides of this comparison are blinked a thousand features match up, not just a dozen. This is a lesson to people searching for Mars Polar lander - it's easy to be fooled! I was in too much of a hurry last time... The parachute and backshell are invisible, the heatshield almost so, but the lander's clear.

Phil

Context:


comparison:


Close-up of the lander:

[Phil Stooke]

Incidentally, I think, from the blinking approach, that the new images are not at all grainy (as suggested above) - the grain is in the landscape.

Phil

[elakdawalla]

Thanks for the correction. I was desperately trying to get those images to line up and on the point of banging my head against my newly repaired computer monitor.

Now I have to go see if I can get this version to line up

Close-up of the lander:

If I squint and do a couple of incantations, I think I can see the solar panels. Would it make sense for them to be bright against darker ground? Would they be frostier or dustier or something?

[ElkGroveDan]

What caused you to go back and reevaluate the location Phil?

[Phil Stooke]

Emily!

Phil

[Hungry4info]

If the slightly darker region in the snow to the bottom-left of the lander is Phoenix's shadow, then I can't see any evidence of solar panels in that shadow.

Maybe Emily is indeed seeing the solar panels (I can sort of make them out), but they may not be attached to Phoenix anymore.

[djellison]

Via HiRISE on Twitter (always superbly informative, fun, and quick) that image was the last before the extended safe mode we're still in with MRO. So it'll be some time before we get a better 'springier' picture sadly.