'Curiosity' - NASA Mars Rover - Due to land 5th Aug 2012

[FunkyNige]

How about a couple of eclipses

[scubadude]

FunkyNige said:

How about a couple of eclipses

I love this "off topic" stuff they do with the rovers, sure they are supposed to drive around and poke the odd rock but the stuff they manage to see and do along the way by accident or as an afterthought is brillant. IIRC some of this stuff came from when one wheel got stuck so the rover inadvertantly dug a trench dragging the dead wheel behind it, the trench turned out more interesting that alot of what it had seen previously.

[Eric Mc]

It's called serendipity.

Maybe that should be the name of the next Mars Rover

[Guvernator]

I am just amazed at how similiar yet "otherworldly" it looks at the same time. I know these are baby steps and the pictures might not be exciting for some but I think they are fascinating, all the more so when you think about how we are seeing those pics. Seeing the earth as an insignificant spec from another planet also puts a different perspective on things to say the least.

[anonymous-user]

Eric Mc said:

It's called serendipity.

It certainly is.

Some fabulous pictures in here that I have never seen before. Thanks all for sharing.

[marksx]

I want a replica of that sundial in my garden!

[Eric Mc]

It won't give you the right time on earth

[marksx]

Not a problem. I just want one!

[Eric Mc]

Bedazzled said:

Ip.s. Just a random thought on the pictures; it's fascinating the most captivating scenes are the views back at Earth, the same could be said of the Apollo Earth-rise and the Voyager 'pale blue dot'. Gives one a sense of perspective.

For the scientists on these projects the really captivating pictures are of where they have sent the device. It's nice to look back at home - but they will be drooling over pictures of rocks, dunes and hills and I bet they can't wait to get those wheels turnin'.

[mrmr96]

FurtiveFreddy said:

We are all just a pixel floating in space

This one is better from that point of view:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot

(We're just over halfway down the reddish band on the right.)

[FactoryPilot]

Anyone know what the temp was where and when the panoramic shot was taken?

[VinceFox]

Bedazzled said:

VinceFox said:

The more i look at these pics, the more i'm convinced we're going to see signs of previous life. It'll be something small, but there has to have been something there.

I gather the foothills near where they landed may be sedimentary, so it maximises their chances. I hope it doesn't get stuck in the sand, it looks an awfully long journey in the pictures. I wonder if they tested it on Earth by plonking it on a random beach or rocky outcrop and saying "go on then, find evidence of life"... and what the results were?

p.s. Just a random thought on the pictures; it's fascinating the most captivating scenes are the views back at Earth, the same could be said of the Apollo Earth-rise and the Voyager 'pale blue dot'. Gives one a sense of perspective.

Agreed, as someone else has said already, seeing the sky on mars in daylight like our own view seems to make it more real somehow. One of my greatest regrets will always be that i'll not be around when humans finally travel to other planets.

[Eric Mc]

I expect humans to be on Mars within 20 years. I fully intend to be around to see it.

[VinceFox]

I have a stupid question...

How come all the moon landing pics show the sky as dark? Is it because there's no atmosphere? Aiui the landings werent exclusively on the dark side, so the atmosphere thing is the only explanation i can come up with although im not sure what difference it would make!

Eric, i meant being alive in a time when we can all travel freely to other planets btw

[TheHeretic]

mrmr96 said:

This one is better from that point of view:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot

(We're just over halfway down the reddish band on the right.)

I have a version of that with Sagan's, (who had the idea to turn the craft around and take the photo), famous Pale blue dot quote on it.

[TheHeretic]

Bedazzled said:

Eric Mc said:

I expect humans to be on Mars within 20 years. I fully intend to be around to see it.

Certainly hope so, on both counts!

Although... I might hack into it and send them somewhere more interesting...

I fully intend to greet them as they arrive.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

I expect humans to be on Mars within 20 years. I fully intend to be around to see it.

Don't get too eager; in 1970 they said we'd be on Mars by 1980...




(But the first people to get there may be planting not a flag but a Chinese takeaway)

[RobDickinson]

Dont know if this has been posted, but some superb shots of curiosity being prep'd and launched.

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/08/curiosi...

[McHaggis]

RobDickinson said:

Dont know if this has been posted, but some superb shots of curiosity being prep'd and launched.

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/08/curiosi...

That's amazing - thanks for sharing.

[RobDickinson]

It does show the complexity and effort put into the project! And how big the rover is , until you see it in the launch capsule then on the rocket!