APOD: Looking Back Across Mars (2010 May 25)

[APOD Robot]

Looking Back Across Mars

Explanation: It's been a long trip for the Martian rover Opportunity. Last week Opportunity surpassed Viking 1 as the longest running mission on Mars, now extending well over six years. Pictured above, Opportunity's tire tracks cross a nearly featureless Martian desert, emanating from a distant horizon. Landing in 2004 in Meridiani Planum, the robotic Opportunity has embarked on its longest and most dangerous trek yet, now aiming to reach large Endeavor Crater sometime next year. Endeavor, it is hoped, holds new clues to the ancient geology of Mars and whether Mars could once have harbored life.

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[HellCat]

Pure coincidence, or are you prescient? A Mars news item, the same day that Phoenix is declared dead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_ ... 151001.stm

[bystander]

Phoenix is declared dead.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_ ... 151001.stm

JPL: Phoenix Mars Lander is Silent, New Image Shows Damage
http://asterisk.apod.com/vie ... 12#p122212

[Beyond]

As a famous Wabbit was once asked -- "Which way did he go,George - Which way did he go


Alright!! Who tracked up the kitchen floor again

[hstarbuck]

The little robotic rover that could.

[SpiritHater]

Haha! Spirit is such a loser.

[sarahstitcher]

The little robotic rover that could.

yes, I can't help thinking of little WALL-E in the movie, toiling away after all the others have broken down!

[orin stepanek]

The scene almost looks like Opportunity is crossing a snow drifted terrain! This wonderful little robot; along with Spirit; brought back a ton of information about Mars.

[neufer]

The little robotic rover that could.

yes, I can't help thinking of little WALL-E in the movie,
toiling away after all the others have broken down!

• • The Graduate (1967)
  Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
  
  Benjamin: Yes, sir.
  
  Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
  
  Benjamin: Yes, I am.
  
  Mr. McGuire: Smectite.
  
  Benjamin: Just how do you mean that, sir?

[Guest]

I have a question;
Maybe it should be obvious and I understand sand debri in certain quanities being on mars or any planet from asteroid and dust collection over billions or years, but isn't that too much too have not been created through weathering? I guess what I'm asking is, isn't just the sure quanity of sand on the surface proof of once large quanities of running water?

[gravi]

Hello evryone
Im curious about some light spots in the image


In the blue circles, are these light areas the same of the light in the pink circle? Is it some light effect reflection?
Oh, I wonder if we can see more pictures of this trail
Thanks!

[wonderboy]

What gets me is that this is a picture, AN ACTUAL PICTURE, from the surface of another planet which we may one day inhabit, and here we all are making jokes .

Its as if we have become so accustomed to technology and other such devices providing us with these remarkable images that we have grown non chalant about the whole affair.

It is truly remarkable that we can look at that picture knowing full and well its another world. Its amazing. Jokes are ok, I like them and they make me laugh, but we shouldn't forget the true awesomness of this photo. At one time in our history only a privileged few could have seen this photo, it would probably have been classified by the powers that be.


Paul

[Fil]

I have another question:
The tracks left printed on the ground by the rover have a clearly periodic pattern.. I was expecting the tracks to be smooth and constant, as made by wheels in good condition! Does this mean there is a defect on (all) wheels , or is it an intentional effect, meant to measure distances from a photograph by knowing the perimeter of the wheels ?

[zbvhs]

Seems to me we should have a rover on the Moon just to explore around and see what's there. Radiation environment would be a major issue for people proposing to live there. For a good understanding of things like that, you need a history of long term measurements. It could be done so cheaply compared to the Mars rover programs.

[wonderboy]

I have another question:
The tracks left printed on the ground by the rover have a clearly periodic pattern.. I was expecting the tracks to be smooth and constant, as made by wheels in good condition! Does this mean there is a defect on (all) wheels , or is it an intentional effect, meant to measure distances from a photograph by knowing the perimeter of the wheels ?

I think it has something to do with how long radio signals take to get to mars from earth. it takes about 10-20 minutes depending on how far away earth and mars are from each other. so if they keep telling the rover to do something else every 10-20 minutes it will make the tracks look stoppy starty.


Paul

[DanH]

I wonder how long it will take for Opportunity's tracks to disappear?

[neufer]

I wonder how long it will take for Opportunity's tracks to disappear?

Probably not long in a land of dust storms & dust devils.

If Spirit comes back to life it could track how its own tracks disappear.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090601.html
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom ... 0331a.html

[Hofi]

Great image!

Does anyone of you know why there are interruptions of the tracks in equidistant gaps?

[biddie67]

With total awe and admiration for those simple tracks winding across that dusty surface, I couldn't help but hear the melody from this old song floating through my mind:

Cool Water

All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water,
Cool water.
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry and souls that cry for water,
Cool, clear, water.

(Chorus:)
Keep a movin' Dan, don't you listen to him Dan, he's a devil not a man
and he spreads the burnin' sand with water.
Dan can't you see that big green tree where the water runs free
and it's waiting there for me and you

The nights are cool and I'm a fool each star’s a pool of water,
Cool water.
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn and carry on to water,
Cool, clear, water.

(Chorus)
Keep a movin' Dan, don't you listen to him Dan, he's a devil not a man
and he spreads the burnin' sand with water.
Dan can't you see that big green tree where the water runs free
and it's waiting there for me and you.

(from a Booth Brothers album)

[owlice]

biddie, now I have that tune playing on the radio in my head!

I love this APOD; what a great picture!

[rstevenson]

... as sung by Marty Robbins.

A simpler time.

Rob

[DavidLeodis]

It's a fascinating picture taken and transmitted from so far away. I have enough trouble getting a good digital camera image of things right in front of me! The Mars Exploration Rovers Mission is an astounding success. Shame that Spirit may have stopped (but we don't know yet for sure) and when Opportunity also ends I shall feel sad. And a word of praise for the Viking 1 mission that lasted so long on Mars and only failed due to a wrong command sent to it.

[owlice]

... as sung by Marty Robbins.

Or by Opera Cowpokes.