APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

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APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by APOD Robot » Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:09 am

Image Martian Anniversary Selfie

Explanation: June 24th marked the first full Martian year of the Curiosity Rover's exploration of the surface of the Red Planet. That's 687 Earth days or 669 sols since its landing on August 5, 2012. To celebrate, consider this self-portrait of the car-sized robot posing next to a rocky outcrop dubbed Windjana, its recent drilling and sampling site. The mosaicked selfie was constructed with frames taken this April and May using the rover's Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), intended for close-up work and mounted at the end of the rover's robotic arm. The MAHLI frames used exclude sections that show the arm itself and so MAHLI and the robotic arm are not seen. Famous for panoramic views, the rover's Mastcam is visible though, on top of the tall mast staring toward the left and down at the drill hole.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by geckzilla » Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:07 am

Alright, where are the seams where MAHLI's arm is omitted from the panorama? Usually I can spot it but I'm having trouble this time. It's amusing to me that the rover can take just the right photos of itself to make it look like an external observer did the imaging.
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by neufer » Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:06 am

geckzilla wrote:
Alright, where are the seams where MAHLI's arm is omitted from the panorama? Usually I can spot it but I'm having trouble this time. It's amusing to me that the rover can take just the right photos of itself to make it look like an external observer did the imaging.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039111/quotes wrote:
The Yearling (1946)

Penny Baxter: Oh Lord. It ain't for us ignorant mortals to say. You give him a sort of wisdom, made him knowin' and gentle. The birds come to him, and the varmints moved free about him, and like as not he could of takened a she wild-cat right in his pore twisted hands. Now you've done seed fit to take him where bein' crookedy in mind or limb don't matter. But Lord, it pleasures us to think now you've done straightened out them legs and that pore bent back and them hands. It pleasures us to think on him, movin' around as easy as any one.
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Guest » Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:56 am

That rock outcrop just to the left of the rover must certainly be sedimentary in origin....

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Hookedonfishing » Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:56 am

First, awesome picture and i never miss an APOD!

Observation - one of the wheels has a hole and is damaged.

Question - the rover is powered by nuclear - are we polluting a planned destination with radiation everywhere it goes?

Yes, i am dumb but curious.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Nitpicker » Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:00 pm

I started looking for the seams, but then I stopped myself. It is too a cool picture (and too well stitched together). Ultimately, I decided I was content to locate the drill hole.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by metamorphmuses » Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:11 pm

@Hookedonfishing, RTGs are safe enough you could be standing right next to one and be fine. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_ ... tor#Safety
---

I think future robotic explorers of the surface of Mars are going to need a way to dust themselves off....

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by CURRAHEE CHRIS » Fri Jun 27, 2014 12:47 pm

The Mars expedition photos are my favorites as a group of APODS.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by neufer » Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:03 pm

metamorphmuses wrote:
@Hookedonfishing, RTGs are safe enough you could be standing right next to one and be fine. wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator#Safety
The real danger would be if Martian terrorists were to get a hold of them.
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by JohnD » Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:45 pm

Hookedonfishing wrote:First, awesome picture and i never miss an APOD!

Observation - one of the wheels has a hole and is damaged.

Question - the rover is powered by nuclear - are we polluting a planned destination with radiation everywhere it goes?

Yes, i am dumb but curious.
Yes, Curio has several holes in its wheels! As they are not pneumatic they don't matter, unless so many occur that the structural intergrity of the wheel is compromised. The holes have alarmed the driving team, whihc now plans drives to avoid as far as possible the many sharp rocks on Mars' surface. Tjis wasn't a problem with Oppo or Spirit, but Curio is much heavier and has much bigger wheels.

The nuclear energy source on Curio is not a type often used on Earth, not because it is dangerous, but because it is relatively inefficient. It is a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, thta uses the heat of nuclear decay to get voltage directly from thermocouples. This design is simple with no moving parts, light and long lasting. America used then as long ago as the Apollo program, and Russia has used them for unmanned light houses etc. A conventional Earthbound reactor is far more efficient, by working at much higher temperatures to raise steam to run turbines, but is enormously heavier.
See:https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/rps/rtg.cfm
The webpage goes into safety, and the various incidents where radiation has leaked because of damage or tampering. But think on't! If it leaked radition in any quantity it could not be fitted to the vehicle when it was built, nor would it be safe to install in the launch vehicle. Here http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... rement.jpg is a picture of a worker measuring the radiotion from a RTG. She is not wearing protective garments!

Do not forget either that as Mars lacks an atmosphere or a magnetosphere, the surface receives a significant solar radiation dose, measured by Curiosity itself at 0.64milliseiverts/day. http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... s-managea/ This is twice the 'cosmic' radiation we get on Earth, but a fifth of all we receive! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_radiation

John

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Carol Cullar » Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:13 pm

The seams are excellent, but I couldn't help but notice that the shadows from the scattered rocks are at various angles and heights, indicating they were shot at various times of day--the only clue I COULD FIND to the pastische! SO glad no one tinted the sky a fake orange! It would be fun to roll over the image and see the edges, then a time/date stamp for each when it was actually shot.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Chris Peterson » Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:23 pm

Carol Cullar wrote:The seams are excellent, but I couldn't help but notice that the shadows from the scattered rocks are at various angles and heights, indicating they were shot at various times of day--the only clue I COULD FIND to the pastische! SO glad no one tinted the sky a fake orange! It would be fun to roll over the image and see the edges, then a time/date stamp for each when it was actually shot.
I'd be very cautious using shadow angles on such a wide angle shot to estimate timing. A single image would show very wide angles, as well. In fact, I don't think the different shadow angles here are substantially created by the image timing. Most of the frames were collected over a short period. Only the area immediately around the sample holes was taken at a significantly different time.
Chris

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by geckzilla » Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:54 pm

Carol Cullar wrote:SO glad no one tinted the sky a fake orange!
The color for this image is balanced to assume something is white. Ergo, the sky has become a dull gray of sorts. The sky of Mars is actually a kind of pale orange or tan color. For easy mode understanding, see this press release:
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA16800

For actual science papers on the color of Martian sky, see:
http://marswatch.astro.cornell.edu/Bell ... lor_06.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 7/abstract

Information and links obtained from fredk's post at unmannedspaceflight.com.
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by geckzilla » Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:58 pm

Chris Peterson wrote:
Carol Cullar wrote:The seams are excellent, but I couldn't help but notice that the shadows from the scattered rocks are at various angles and heights, indicating they were shot at various times of day--the only clue I COULD FIND to the pastische! SO glad no one tinted the sky a fake orange! It would be fun to roll over the image and see the edges, then a time/date stamp for each when it was actually shot.
I'd be very cautious using shadow angles on such a wide angle shot to estimate timing. A single image would show very wide angles, as well. In fact, I don't think the different shadow angles here are substantially created by the image timing. Most of the frames were collected over a short period. Only the area immediately around the sample holes was taken at a significantly different time.
Raw images with timestamps are available here: (Search for MAHLI)
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia ... ?slide=613

Drill hole:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia ... DXXX&s=626
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Keyman » Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:29 pm

I noticed how dusty and dirty she is, and there's obviously no rover-washes in the vicinity, so the question is... how do they keep the lenses clean enough to take these pictures?

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Chris Peterson » Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:38 pm

Keyman wrote:I noticed how dusty and dirty she is, and there's obviously no rover-washes in the vicinity, so the question is... how do they keep the lenses clean enough to take these pictures?
Dust settles primarily on horizontal surfaces. The lenses are shielded and pointed downward when not in use, so they accumulate dust very slowly. And for the most part, dust doesn't seriously impact camera performance. The primary problem is a loss of contrast if the lenses are exposed to direct sunlight, but that seldom occurs because they have sun shields (like the lens hoods used by photographers).
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by MarkBour » Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:53 pm

geckzilla wrote:Alright, where are the seams where MAHLI's arm is omitted from the panorama? Usually I can spot it but I'm having trouble this time. It's amusing to me that the rover can take just the right photos of itself to make it look like an external observer did the imaging.
I'm not good at finding seams. The MAHLI camera itself would be extending off of the extension that is coming straight out of the bottom of the rover body (bottom as we look at the picture), right? If I'm not mistaken MAHLI's shadow is beautifully shown to the right of the rover, so it was self-captured after a fashion :-) What would have been spliced out, then, would be a bit more of its arm coming down to the bottom of the photomosaic.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by hlwelborn » Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:04 pm

Awesome. I totally want to go.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Boomer12k » Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:18 pm

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Go, Rover, GO!!!!!!!

In HONOR of this auspicious occasion, I have written several songs. I am hoping the Beach Boys will pick them up.
Well...OK...I only have the Titles....and part of one song....I have....

Little Deuce Rover.
Martian High School.
Sand Dune Surfing.
And
Sand Dune Surfer Girl. Which I have modified some lyrics....

"My little Sand Dune Surfer Girl....you make soooo haaaaappyy...
With your shimmy, shimmy, and your shaky, shaky....
and I reeeeally LOVE you...yeah, yeah, yeah...." with a little ending guitar riff... you know?

OK...I'm still working on it.....GOOOO ROVER!!!!! Great image!!!

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Beyond » Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:40 pm

Boomer12k wrote:Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Go, Rover, GO!!!!!!!

In HONOR of this auspicious occasion, I have written several songs. I am hoping the Beach Boys will pick them up.
Well...OK...I only have the Titles....and part of one song....I have....

Little Deuce Rover.
Martian High School.
Sand Dune Surfing.
And
Sand Dune Surfer Girl. Which I have modified some lyrics....

"My little Sand Dune Surfer Girl....you make soooo haaaaappyy...
With your shimmy, shimmy, and your shaky, shaky....
and I reeeeally LOVE you...yeah, yeah, yeah...." with a little ending guitar riff... you know?

OK...I'm still working on it.....GOOOO ROVER!!!!! Great image!!!

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Boomer12k » Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:48 pm

Beyond wrote:
Boomer12k wrote:Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Go, Rover, GO!!!!!!!

In HONOR of this auspicious occasion, I have written several songs. I am hoping the Beach Boys will pick them up.
Well...OK...I only have the Titles....and part of one song....I have....

Little Deuce Rover.
Martian High School.
Sand Dune Surfing.
And
Sand Dune Surfer Girl. Which I have modified some lyrics....

"My little Sand Dune Surfer Girl....you make soooo haaaaappyy...
With your shimmy, shimmy, and your shaky, shaky....
and I reeeeally LOVE you...yeah, yeah, yeah...." with a little ending guitar riff... you know?

OK...I'm still working on it.....GOOOO ROVER!!!!! Great image!!!

:---[===] *
The Beach Boys?? Yeah, i get around too, but don't forget your day job, Boomer!
OH....I am afraid I LOST THAT along time ago, Beyond.....Now I just have no life...I blame Squirrels....yeah...their after me....
I know too much.... :lol2:

Been reading up on sedimentary rocks on Mars.
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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by Beyond » Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:28 pm

Boomer12k wrote:
Beyond wrote:
Boomer12k wrote:Happy Anniversary!!!!!!

Go, Rover, GO!!!!!!!

In HONOR of this auspicious occasion, I have written several songs. I am hoping the Beach Boys will pick them up.
Well...OK...I only have the Titles....and part of one song....I have....

Little Deuce Rover.
Martian High School.
Sand Dune Surfing.
And
Sand Dune Surfer Girl. Which I have modified some lyrics....

"My little Sand Dune Surfer Girl....you make soooo haaaaappyy...
With your shimmy, shimmy, and your shaky, shaky....
and I reeeeally LOVE you...yeah, yeah, yeah...." with a little ending guitar riff... you know?

OK...I'm still working on it.....GOOOO ROVER!!!!! Great image!!!

:---[===] *
The Beach Boys?? Yeah, i get around too, but don't forget your day job, Boomer!
OH....I am afraid I LOST THAT along time ago, Beyond.....Now I just have no life...I blame Squirrels....yeah...their after me....
I know too much.... :lol2:

Been reading up on sedimentary rocks on Mars.
:---[===] *
ha-ha, yeah, tooo much reading about sedimentary rocks can make one a little nutty for a time, and the squirrels are always on the lookout...
To find the Truth, you must go Beyond.

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Re: APOD: Martian Anniversary Selfie (2014 Jun 27)

Post by RiverCity7 » Sat Jun 28, 2014 2:39 am

I LOVE THIS APOD picture! I have some favorites among the star pictures done from earth and from the Hubble, but this has to join the "honors table" Thanks!

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