The Top of Vera Rubin Ridge Part 1, Site 66-67, sol 1812-1943, 11 Sep 2017-23 Jan 2018 Options

[PaulH51]

It's a pity they don't do the cloud and DD searches with the stereo paired cameras.
An 1888 R-NavCam sequence of 8 frames has a really nice cosmic ray strike or whatever else one would like to think it is
The version uploaded here is increased in size to 1000x1000 and a link provided to the raw image (511x511)

A stereo pair would have been nice to prove one way or another that it's unlikely to be an incoming space rock or a piece of space junk etc but a simple cosmic ray strike with a nice tail

[charborob]

The sol 1887 Lmastcam view:

[djellison]

It's a pity they don't do the cloud and DD searches with the stereo paired cameras.

So - apart from doubling the data volume* for observations like this - there's another problem. The PRT used to monitor the Navcams is on the right camera.

Just under a year ago - we had an instance where we were taking dust devil and cloud movies, early in the morning, with the left camera - under the assumption that the heating being used that put the right camera into the allowable flight temperature range ( -55degC ) meant the left camera was in that safe range as well. On a few occasions due to lighting conditions, rover orientation etc...it wasn't. The left camera was used

The result is - we now have a thing called the no-heat-window - a period of time when it's OK to use both Navcams because the thermal team are confident that they'll be warm enough to be used anyway. Inside that window - we can do stereo. OUTside that window ( and it's typically around 1100 to 1800 at this time of year ) we're not allowed to use the left camera at all.

So - while ENV (environmental stuff - clouds, dust devils, etc etc) observations get done all over the place - the really nice early morning ones couldn't be done in stereo anyway because of this thermal constraint.

If you're wondering when this all happened - find the time when those observations swapped over from the left navcam to the right navcam ( shortly after Sol 1602 I think )




* There are some tricks one could maybe use in terms of issuing a data re-prioritization ...but that would be a BIIIGgg data management headache)

[elakdawalla]

Gosh darn it this should be in my book and it's too late.

[Gerald]

A stereo pair would have been nice to prove one way or another that it's unlikely to be an incoming space rock or a piece of space junk etc but a simple cosmic ray strike with a nice tail

A possible impact site would be almost on a straight line defined by the intersection of the plane of the possible paths of a presumed meteorite with the martian surface. So it might be, that it would show up as one ore more darkish spots on a future HiRISE image, if it isn't too far away from Curiosity's location. At least something to check for.

[PaulH51]

So - apart from doubling the data volume....

Many thanks to Doug for the very valuable insight Also Gerald for the suggestion to keep an eye on future HiRISE image around Gale for fresh impacts

[PaulH51]

Another long-distance telescopic survey with ChemCam, this time on sol 1890 featuring 'a fan like deposit closer to Mt. Sharp' (mentioned in this mission update)
All ten frames were roughly assembled using MS ICE without additional processing.
Raw images Link

[Ant103]

Sol 1889 Navcam panoramic

[PaulH51]

Sol 1889 Navcam panoramic

Nice... The inner rim wall looks much better with these lower levels of atmospheric dust

[Phil Stooke]

Damia's latest panorama in circular form. Thanks!

Phil

[charborob]

The sol 1889 Lmastcam drive direction view:

[PaulH51]

The planned drive for sol 1891 towards the Southeast may take the rover close to the next map quadrant. Any guesses on the theme for the next quadrant?

[PaulH51]

Just 4 of the L-NavCams after the drive on Sol 1894, the rest of the images are down, but MS ICE did not want to play ball today. However, these may help to narrow down the location until someone can stitch the set together Nice to see the whole of the mountain without the need for a top tier, great pointing JPL Looking forward to seeing the full pan

[Ant103]

This panorama taken on Sol 1894 is just incredible. Like we could touch the hills !

[neo56]

Nice work Damia! What a wonderful sight Let's to the hills!