Holy Cow - take a look at these Martian Pics!

[jpak]

The Geologists must be freaking out!!!





More at:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040209a.html

[gristy]

1. I'm no geologist, but is that wind-blown sedimentary rock (sandstone)

right there? It sure looks something like it.

[jpak]

3. It sure looks sedimentary to me - but

subaerial OR subaqueous????

and those spheres????

dare I say the "F" word????

Full NASA Press release...

Mars Rover Pictures Raise 'Blueberry Muffin' Questions

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040209a.html

[Minstrel Boy]

2. How about this one:

enlargement:



higher contrast:



from original Opportunity panorama:

marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040202a/MSPan_B1_2x-B009R1.jpg

[Catch22Dem]

4. Wow! What's that supposed to be?

[jpak]

5. Part of the parachute?

or the airbags????

[Nebraska_Liberal]

6. I am wondering the same thing.

The little martians are probably freaking out. "We are being invaded!"

Ned

[TennesseeWalker]

16. NO...not "Invaded"....we're there to liberate them!

Didn't you get the memo?

[Minstrel Boy]

8. I've seen no explanation. In later images of the area, it seems

to be missing.

[jpak]

11. Cue spooky theremin music

oooooo eeeee a ooooooooo

[ProdigalJunkMail]

9. gotta be a fossil...

boy that's gonna screw some people up :-)

Just kidding...I haven't the foggiest...

theProdigal

[jpak]

12. More about the spherical objects

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040209a.html

<snip>

The first outcrop rock Opportunity examined up close is finely-layered, buff-colored and in the process of being eroded by windblown sand. "Embedded in it like blueberries in a muffin are these little spherical grains," said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for the rovers' scientific instruments. Microscopic images show the gray spheres in various stages of being released from the rock.

"This is wild looking stuff," Squyres said. "The rock is being eroded away and these spherical grains are dropping out." The spheres may have formed when molten rock was sprayed into the air by a volcano or a meteor impact. Or, they may be concretions, or accumulated material, formed by minerals coming out of solution as water diffused through rock, he said.

<snip>

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. my guess was...

molten rock from a meteorite impact...but I am no geologist...too cool! Thanks for posting

theProdigal

[jpak]

15. Tektites??? Maybe

But they're pretty uniform in size and shape.

Tektites come in various shapes and sizes.

http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/metsoc/techweb.htm

but who knows????

[politick]

7. yeah

what the H is that>?

[librechik]

18. It's the energizer bunny...

no, we don't know what that is, and after someone asked about it, the photo was taken down from the NASA site. There are many theories about this object, and speculation about what Opportunity did to it (rolled over it? picked it up?) Some theories: part of the lander-parachute assembly, a fulgerite--(really? is there lightning on Mars?)

but we don't know. It's a striking sight...

http://www.rense.com/general48/stransge.htm

[jpak]

19. Lightning would require a thick moist atmosphere

maybe some time in the distant past???

I bet they will come up with some really good evidence for surface water in the past - and maybe some intriguing insights into Martian marine geochemistry.

and maybe some biogeochemistry too????

This is just too cool...

yeah - I'm a nerd

:)

[Superfly]

17. It's the Easterbunny!

[ComerPerro]

10. I clicked on this thread hoping so see Martians

Naturally, I am disappointed

[G_j]

13. wow is right

very interesting, and sooo much more inspiring than another pic of you know who..

thanks!