Discussion
Eric Mc said:
Earth should be easily visible to the naked eye from Mars. After all, Mars is easily visible to the naked eye from earth.
I don't think anyone said Earth wouldn't be visible. Maybe not as a blue/green pixel though.http://www.space.com/24593-mars-rover-curiosity-se...
So what. It's visible. He could see it. Indeed, it would appear quite a bit brighter than Mars does to us. He might even be able to pick out our moon.
Whether it's a pixel or not is irrelevant.
Maybe that's the problem with "The Martian" as a book (but less so with the film). Too much attention to nerdy, geeky detail and not enough attention to the grandeur of the surroundings.
I even noticed in the film that every so often you caught a glimpse of Phobos or Deimos sliding slowly across the Martian sky. What a sight - and a truly alien sight - that must be. So far, not even mentioned once in the book.
Whether it's a pixel or not is irrelevant.
Maybe that's the problem with "The Martian" as a book (but less so with the film). Too much attention to nerdy, geeky detail and not enough attention to the grandeur of the surroundings.
I even noticed in the film that every so often you caught a glimpse of Phobos or Deimos sliding slowly across the Martian sky. What a sight - and a truly alien sight - that must be. So far, not even mentioned once in the book.
RegMolehusband said:
Eric Mc said:
I'm now reading the book and enjoying it. However, what it does seem to lack is a little bit of literary grandeur. Even if I was the only man on Mars struggling to stay alive, now and then I would still stop and pause every so often to take in the view and appreciate where I actually am - and gaze in awe.
There is very little of that in the book. In fact, one of the best parts of the film for me was the visual interpretation of what it is like to actually stand on Mars and contemplate the view. The Marscapes were very well done. The book lacks this "big vision".
Andy Weir won't win any literary prizes for his prose writing.
I worked my way through the book but didn't enjoy the minute technical detail that much and skipped many such paragraphs. I was looking for the human frailty and insecurities considering his long and lonely predicament but they weren't particularly expressed. And yes, he should have spent more time looking into the darkness of space and the blue/green pixel that is home. I bet the Milky Way looks impressive from Mars. He also said "Yay!" far too many times for my liking too - slightly annoying.There is very little of that in the book. In fact, one of the best parts of the film for me was the visual interpretation of what it is like to actually stand on Mars and contemplate the view. The Marscapes were very well done. The book lacks this "big vision".
Andy Weir won't win any literary prizes for his prose writing.
I think I'll enjoy the film more.
"I've just solved a problem that means I'll survive for another week... Yay!"
Dry humoured astronaut did amuse me.
Eric Mc said:
So what. It's visible. He could see it. Indeed, it would appear quite a bit brighter than Mars does to us. He might even be able to pick out our moon.
Whether it's a pixel or not is irrelevant.
Apologies, have I upset you in some way?Whether it's a pixel or not is irrelevant.
I was addressing this statement:
RegMolehusband said:
And yes, he should have spent more time looking into the darkness of space and the blue/green pixel that is home.
popeyewhite said:
RegMolehusband said:
And yes, he should have spent more time looking into the darkness of space and the blue/green pixel that is home.
There would be no 'blue/green pixel', not without a powerful telescope!
Mars is easily visible to the naked eye from here on Earth and is distinctly red in colour.
Earth is almost twice the diameter of Mars so would be easily visible to the naked eye from Mars.
Even a moderate pair of consumer grade binoculars would be able to resolve it as a disk and most amateur grade telescopes (3 inches plus) would be more than capable of resolving some level of detail.
popeyewhite said:
Yep, easily visible.
Earth is "easily visible" in that image.Not bad considering that's a low resolution, low dynamic range image taken using a wide angle camera designed for taking shots primarily in daylight.
Nothing like the high dynamic range, high resolution, high light sensitivity capabilities of the human eye
popeyewhite said:
Moonhawk said:
Earth is "easily visible" in that image.
I'll have some of what you're on.
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/
Edited by Moonhawk on Wednesday 14th October 16:19
Moonhawk said:
Off you go then, lol.Eric Mc said:
Every Flight Director cannot be portrayed as if they were Gene Kranz clones. You do know that, during the Apollo era, there were other Flight Directors besides Gene Kranz? And one of them was English - John Hodge.
Yes I do know a fair bit Apollo the Apollo missions, and the personal involved. Hell, one of my usernames on another forum is SCE to AUX.Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff