Crossing the Dunes at Murray Buttes, Sites 54-62, Sols 1353-1659, May 28 2016-Apr 6 2017 Options

[PaulH51]

Kudos to fredk for the insight on phase angle... and thanks to mcaplinger for taking the time and effort to research the events that caused the anomaly.

Seconded... Very grateful for everyone's time and knowledge (as always)

Curiosity Mission Update by Lauren Edgar, dated 08 Jun 2016 - Sols 1366-1367: Opportunistic contact science

The day started off with some changes to the sol path due to some holes in the downlink. Unfortunately some engineering camera and MAHLI images from Sol 1364 were not fully transmitted, so the team worked quickly to rearrange the intended activities this week. Fortunately that also meant that we could add in some opportunistic DRT, MAHLI and APXS activities on Sol 1366.
The two-sol plan starts off with ChemCam and Mastcam observations of the Oudam drill hole and tailings, and the nearby target “Omulonga.” We’ll also acquire some Mastcam and Navcam observations to monitor the atmosphere. In the afternoon of the first sol, we’ll use the DRT, MALHI and APXS to characterize the bedrock target “Aubures” to look for variations in texture and chemistry within the Murray formation. On the second sol we’ll acquire a 360 degree Mastcam mosaic for geologic context, and a routine SAM electrical baseline test to monitor instrument health. Hopefully the Navcam images will be retransmitted so we can continue with our drill site characterization activities later this week!

[PaulH51]

Peeling Back the History of Mars, One Layer at a Time

Sol 1352 R-Mastcam. Crop from an incomplete mosaic assembled in MS ICE

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[Fran Ontanaya]

If you look at the shadows, that elongated feature in the lower left is held in the air just by the tip.

[PaulH51]

If you look at the shadows, that elongated feature in the lower left is held in the air just by the tip.

We have seen several similar 'near floating' aeolian features. The reduced gravity on Mars will help, as will the lack of rain, but I guess that differential levels of cementation probably played a big role as well as the direction of the prevailing wind.

[atomoid]

Mars never ceases to amaze! here are stereos (anaglyph/crosseye/parellel) of sol1352 suspended pipe and a stone with piggyback nodule either sitting atop or part of a ledge protuberance..

[serpens]

Almost nearly but not quite as impressive as Opportunity's berries on stalks.

[atomoid]

those Oppy berries on stalks were impressive, and i had thought they were comparatively tiny, but turns out i am continually surprised yet again how mastcam inflates everything it images.. so this little schtick that seemed like part of a lost pencil now looks to be but a bit of dried spaghetti, given the proximity to the wheel as imaged by navcam on sol1352 though its too small to determine the jointing to the base rock out in that lo-res shot, so its much lighter than at least i had suspected, not much tensile strength needed at all to preserve such whimsical artifacts being so small.. turns out i had posted a stitch of it unawares back in the previous thread ....yes i guess this post is drifting a little off-thread now based on the sol cutoff for 'crossing the dunes...'

[PaulH51]

those Oppy berries on stalks were impressive, and i had thought they were comparatively tiny, but turns out i am continually surprised yet again how mastcam inflates everything it images....yes i guess this post is drifting a little off-thread now based on the sol cutoff for 'crossing the dunes...'

Ooops, missed the cut off day for the thread... Hopefully the mods can sort this out...

I was curious as to the actual size of the feature So.... Using the AlgorimancerPG Photogrammetry and RangeFinder Utility by Clark Andersen, I measured the length of the pencil like structure using the L&R NavCam images from sol 1349 when the rover arrived at that location

The length was reported as a fraction under 40 mm or 1.55 inches, so a stubby pencil indeed

[Phil Stooke]

A bit late, but I've been on the Moon. This is a circular version of Jan's panorama from sol 1357 showing the area around Oudam.

Phil

[PaulH51]

Montage of sol 1366 images featuring what could be 'Omulonga'. R-MastCam/RMI mosaic/NavCam

Curiosity Mission Update by Lauren Edgar, dated 10 Jun 2016 - Sols 1368-1370: On the road again

We received the engineering data that we needed to proceed with the final science activities at the Oudam drill site. Today’s plan is focused on analyzing the pre-sieve dump pile and getting on the road again.
The three-sol plan starts by moving the arm out of the way so we can target the workspace. First we’ll acquire a ChemCam passive observation on the pre-sieve dump pile, followed by several ChemCam and Mastcam observations of nearby veins. Then we’ll use all of the Mastcam filters to study the DRT target “Aubures,” and we’ll acquire a Mastcam mosaic to document the local geology. We’ll also target two areas to look for changes and the movement of fine-grained material. Then we’ll move the arm back to the dump pile for MAHLI and APXS observations. On the second sol we’ll use ChemCam to target the dump pile, and then we’ll drive away. We’ll take our standard post-drive imaging, and an autonomously selected ChemCam target. The third sol is devoted to ChemCam and Mastcam observations to monitor the chemistry and opacity of the atmosphere.

[PaulH51]

Just in case you hadn't noticed, Curioity's Midnight Planets page is not loading the latest images. I messaged Michael, and he is away until next Sunday when things should return to normal

[PaulH51]

Sol 1357/1368 comparison:
Looking for changes and the movement of fine-grained materials link to plan

[fredk]

Yeah, that was very close to the drill site as this wider navcam view shows:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/pr...NCAM00309M_.JPG

[PaulH51]

Sol 1369 drive by Curiosity, drive details currently unknown with only a selection of NavCams available, so here is a quick and dirty end-of drive stitch (MS ICE)
Hope this can help to narrow down the location Cropped to bring it within the upload limit.

[Phil Stooke]

Thanks Paul - I am completely reliant on our benefactors here on UMSF for panoramas.

It did give a good location. Here's a reprojection, made at my B&B in Lyme Regis, Dorset while supposedly on holiday.

Phil