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RJS
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 Posted: October 1, 2008 8:07 AM |
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Anyone know what these white spots might be. I suspect ice. But then again, wouldn't ice disappear quickly versus move around.
"One potential photographic subject is the Holy Cow ice feature directly underneath the lander. The ice was exposed when Phoenix's thrusters pushed away the dirt lying on top of it during landing. The feature was first imaged by Phoenix's robotic arm camera.
The imager might also catch a glimpse of some so-called "barnacles" attached to Phoenix's legs. Smith describes these as "bright dots on the legs" that are pieces of the Martian surface that were splashed onto the legs by the thrusters during landing.
Some of the dots have grown and some have moved around over the course of the mission, which is now entering its fifth month on the Martian surface. Mission scientists aren't sure why the dots have such unusual behavior.
"It's one of those wonderful Martian mysteries," Smith said."
The whole story can be found here -
[link]
RJS
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hortonheardawho
Posts: 2824
Reply: 1
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| Posted: October 1, 2008 6:44 PM |
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RJS, thanks for linking to this article.
Lots of interesting stuff to look forward to.
I believe this is the first reference by the mission scientists to the strange "ice barnicles" -- and the first time to a general reference to "just one of the wonderful Martian mysteries.
There is hope for them yet. |
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RW
Posts: 111
Reply: 2
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| Posted: October 4, 2008 11:29 PM |
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How generous they are with these "mysteries."
By the time the real mystery is solved, I suspect it will be too late.
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Paul Scott Anderson
Posts: 50
Reply: 3
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| Posted: October 4, 2008 11:58 PM |
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The first reference, that I've seen anyway, was the one that I posted in the other Phoenix on Mars thread back on September 10:
">http://uanews.org/node/21442
But in that thread, I was criticized for posting about something that was already known about, the "barnacles," missing the point that I was simply referring it as the first "official" reference to the odd lumps on the lander leg.
But here, RJS gets thanked... (I do appreciate him posting this new link though also, of course).
Paul |
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RJS 
Posts: 123
Reply: 4
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| Posted: October 6, 2008 9:58 PM |
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Sorry Paul... I didn't mean to step on toes. RJS
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Paul Scott Anderson
Posts: 50
Reply: 5
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| Posted: October 8, 2008 9:43 AM |
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Not at all, RJS.
I'm glad you posted that new link. I was just curious why when I had posted essentially the same thing last month, an official reference to these oddities and nothing more, that Horton and Fred thought I was just bringing up the subject when it was already well known about (yes, I knew that), and missing the point (saying the same thing as you). I haven't heard back from either of them yet...
Paul |
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marsman
Posts: 303
Reply: 6
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| Posted: October 20, 2008 11:27 AM |
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"grown and moved around"..
Hmmm...
Yep! They're just rocks!
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marsman
Posts: 303
Reply: 7
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| Posted: October 20, 2008 12:33 PM |
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Well, RW..
I just checked with the Mars *bunny* and..
![]()
[link]
..it says that the "barnacles" are just "wayward piece(s) of airbag material or something similar"..
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RW
Posts: 111
Reply: 8
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RW
Posts: 111
Reply: 9
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RW
Posts: 111
Reply: 10
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| Posted: October 20, 2008 10:58 PM |
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Here's todays map of where the power is still out in Texas. Judging from what remains, I'd say that the core of strongest winds wind went right over that little rabbit's hole.
[Source Link] |
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RW
Posts: 111
Reply: 11
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| Posted: October 20, 2008 11:00 PM |
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Sorry, I meant to include a blow up version.
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RW
Posts: 111
Reply: 12
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| Posted: October 22, 2008 2:43 AM |
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I'm just glad that there are still some old timers around, who remember ... the bunny.
Getting back to the "barnacles." The rovers have, at various times, had curious objects appear on them, and while some may curious items may be explainable, others defy easy explanation. |
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