[X] My Assistant

[Tesheiner]

Interesting -- Google Chrome doesn't display this page properly. Ever since the wee hours when I first pulled this page up, in Chrome all I get are image placeholders and clicking on any of the placeholders just re-displays the same page with the placeholders.

Works just fine, as designed, when I access the site via Internet Explorer 9.

Just an FYI for y'all.

-the other Doug

It happened to me early on but the problem disappeared by reloading (F5) the page. Cleaning the cache might solve it too.

[MahFL]

MSL on the other hand already looks like it's been on Mars for a while. It's got dusty lenses and dirty wheels with pebbles rolling around inside.

MER's were inside airbags, MSL was under a jet plume.

[AdamH]

Mt. Sharp!

If I'm interpreting that correctly, the filled channel they're considering as a primary traverse route should be just to the right of that downslope on the right side of the image. The "fence" that's beyond the dune field might be just off to the right in the distance. Anyway, those features at the bottom of the slope are going to get a *whole* lot bigger. I've dropped a 50m tall marker in the channel in the image below. The fence itself is a good 50m or so tall.

[Tesheiner]

Trying to compare the dunes we see in the distance to Tesheiner slope maps in Google EarthMars. Looks like there is a gap in HiRISEwhere I think the more interesting details in the dunes visible in the Fcam are located. Not sure if that is a real gap (truly no HiRISE data) or if Tesheiner just didn't include that image.

The mosaic was assembled by jmknapp (I just ported it to GE) and I'm trying to remember the discussion between him and Paolo about that gap.

[nprev]

When MER rovers landed, they were absolutely pristine--brand new machines with gleaming surfaces from another world, waiting for commands from their masters...

MSL on the other hand already looks like it's been on Mars for a while. It's got dusty lenses and dirty wheels with pebbles rolling around inside.

You have to remember that the MERs (and MPF) were basically encapsulated upon landing; they didn't get 'unpacked' until the bouncing was done, the airbags were retracted, and the petals opened up.

This was a powered descent with very robust thrusters. MSL's big, so it had to be done that way. Not too surprising that some debris was kicked up thereby.

[algorimancer]

There's a bit of topography visible in the stereo views.

Cross-eyed pair:


Anaglyph (hopefully I haven't swapped L/R in this one):


stphmkre recommended.

[jamescanvin]

Ha, Ok maybe I was the one who needed to rewatch it. I remembered that they were towed in after deploy but hadn't noticed that they were straight at landing, I always assumed they would stay pointed in as straightening would be an extra unneeded complication.

[ugordan]

Could still be an inaccuracy in that video.

[Mongo]

It looks to me like Curiosity landed on the edge of the alluvial fan. The firm surface with well-sorted pebbles suggests this, and on the hazcam images you can see that the terrain that Curiosity is currently sitting on, comes to an end well short of the dune field, with a lighter-coloured unit between them.

[MahFL]

Could still be an inaccuracy in that video.

The less parts moved around during EDl would be sensible.

[fredk]

You do seem to have L/R swapped, alg.

Here's my attempt (with a bit of de-headaching applied):

[Fran Ontanaya]

White balanced Mount Sharp cross eye:

[MahFL]

It's going to be like driving to the Columbia Hills again, but many times better .

[tbruckner]

What's the reason why sofar all of the data reveived has been from Odyssey. Shouldn't MRO be able to dump much more data than Odyssey?

[Marslauncher]

Watching Eyes on the Solar System again, It appears we are about to watch sunrise at Gale Crater. Also looks like we may have just had another Odyssey overflight.