APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
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APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by APOD Robot » Sun May 08, 2011 4:06 am

Image Shadow of a Martian Robot

Explanation: What if you saw your shadow on Mars and it wasn't human? Then you might be the Opportunity rover currently exploring Mars. Opportunity and sister robot Spirit have been probing the red planet since early 2004, finding evidence of ancient water, and sending breathtaking images across the inner Solar System. Pictured above, Opportunity looks opposite the Sun into Endurance Crater and sees its own shadow. Two wheels are visible on the lower left and right, while the floor and walls of the unusual crater are visible in the background. Although the Spirit rover is now stuck, Opportunity is continuing on its long trek to expansive Endeavor crater.

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by fatcitymax » Sun May 08, 2011 5:21 am

The rovers are a technological tour de force, but their greatest benefit is to show that Mars is simply a dead desert and not worth spending more taxpayer's dollars on.

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by NoelC » Sun May 08, 2011 6:01 am

What a fantastic job done by all involved with these rovers!

The viability of long-term solar electric power is surely proven.

-Noel

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by Boomer12k » Sun May 08, 2011 6:50 am

If it sees its shadow, does that mean 6 more weeks of Winter????? :shock:

ft

Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by ft » Sun May 08, 2011 7:56 am

Hate to say this, but don't they look like boot prints in front of, and between the wheels?

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by owlice » Sun May 08, 2011 9:11 am

ft wrote:Hate to say this, but don't they look like boot prints in front of, and between the wheels?
No. "They" look like tire tread marks.

What a fabulous planet is Mars, and that Spirit and Opportunity have worked so well for so long, giving us so much information, is amazing! Poor Spirit, stuck and cold. :-( Go, Opportunity!
A closed mouth gathers no foot.

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by orin stepanek » Sun May 08, 2011 1:12 pm

Great millage we got from the two little rovers. :D
Orin

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by biddie67 » Sun May 08, 2011 1:20 pm

At first glance, the crest of the crater in the background looks like the crest of an ocean wave .... oh, if it could only be so!

Keep on rolling little rover!!!

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by Beyond » Sun May 08, 2011 3:15 pm

I chatted with Fred. The only way i could get out of chat, was by disconnecting my IE8, and then starting over to get back here. I guess Fred's kinda lonely and doesn't want to let go.
To find the Truth, you must go Beyond.

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by biddie67 » Sun May 08, 2011 3:21 pm

Yeh - Fred was rather persistent over here also - there was some difficulty in sending him on his way ....

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by Beyond » Sun May 08, 2011 3:31 pm

I've run into that kind of situation before. It's like entering through a one-way door, and theres no exit. So you have to go home(or disengage)and start over. Don't the people who set these things up check them out to make sure they work right? Apparently not always.
To find the Truth, you must go Beyond.

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by bystander » Sun May 08, 2011 4:10 pm

Fred??? Guess I missed something. :?
Know the quiet place within your heart and touch the rainbow of possibility; be
alive to the gentle breeze of communication, and please stop being such a jerk.
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orin stepanek
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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by orin stepanek » Sun May 08, 2011 5:13 pm

bystander wrote:Fred??? Guess I missed something. :?
This fred?[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9MA0eW8 ... detailpage[/youtube]
Orin

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by BMAONE23 » Sun May 08, 2011 5:45 pm

While the Martian SPIRIT is mired, cold & lonely, at least we still have a Golden OPPORTUNITY to continue exploring the surface of Mars as well as other active probes sending us wonderful images and valuable data. Let's just hope that we have a ticket to ride until the next mission arrives and our CURIOSITY is piqued again.

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by Sam » Sun May 08, 2011 5:51 pm

bystander wrote:Fred??? Guess I missed something. :?
Maybe they're talking about the Turing Test link: http://www.turinghub.com/ ?
"No avian society ever develops space travel because it's impossible to focus on calculus when you could be outside flying." -Randall Munroe

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by Beyond » Mon May 09, 2011 3:31 am

bystander wrote:Fred??? Guess I missed something. :?
I can't belive i caught something and bystander missed it! What a moment to revel in. .... ok, long enough. Bystander, click on the blue 'human' in the explanation.

Well, i see Sam already put the link up. He cheated and didn't go through the word human shame on him. :lol:
To find the Truth, you must go Beyond.

Kaplaa

Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by Kaplaa » Tue May 10, 2011 3:26 pm

Was I the only one who noticed the suns reflection off the side of the crater and the reflection given off the tracks the rover went on.
Might have discovered ice without knowing it

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Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)

Post by rstevenson » Tue May 10, 2011 5:53 pm

There's lots of very pale stone on Mars, as well as white salts just under the surface. But mostly, in this partciular picture, the white you see is just overexposed light-coloured material.

Rob