A Space & astronomy forum. SpaceBanter.com

Go Back   Home » SpaceBanter.com forum » Astronomy and Astrophysics » SETI
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old February 6th 04, 05:42 PM
junekis@comcast.net
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,
others are skeptical.

Can anyone think of a way to enhance the image to better discern its
origin?

Could NASA be convinced to send Spirit back for a close-up?

JRU
  #2  
Old February 6th 04, 07:04 PM
Martin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

wrote:
If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,
others are skeptical.


The patterns you seem to describe are also shown across other parts of
the image. Looks to be nothing more than underlying stone or large
rounded grains as are already being recently investigated by the rovers.

The image also shows the effects of jpg compression. The very high
contrast also suggests that it has been unnaturally 'enhanced'.


Can anyone think of a way to enhance the image to better discern its
origin?


You could try loading it up in GIMP or Photoshop or whatever and play
further with the gamma, contrast, filtering or whatever.


Could NASA be convinced to send Spirit back for a close-up?


Possibly, if you can give a significant proposal backed up with reasoned
evidence that can override their existing high priorities for making
best use of the rover's desperately short life.


Investigate further and see if you can convince the group first.

Regards,
Martin


--
---------- Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today.
- Martin - Teach him how to fish and he won't bother you for weeks!
- 53N 1W - - Anon
----------

  #3  
Old February 6th 04, 09:11 PM
R. G. 'Stumpy' Marsh
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

In message ,
wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil


I don't see anything that looks at all fossil like. Can you give more
precise directions?

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,
others are skeptical.

Can anyone think of a way to enhance the image to better discern its
origin?


Try to find the raw images and see if there's a spectrograph of the
same patch.

ould NASA be convinced to send Spirit back for a close-up?


If you can make a good case for it being a possible fossil, anything's
could happen. Better be quick though, they're planning to send Spirit
on a long-range drive in a few days, and they'll be much less likely
to retrace a hundred yards than a few feet.

Stumpy.
--
R.G. "Stumpy" Marsh Timaru, New Zealand
http://marsh.orcon.net.nz/ S@H 500WU ret.
  #4  
Old February 6th 04, 09:21 PM
Tony Sivori
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil, others
are skeptical.


I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the left of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori

  #5  
Old February 7th 04, 10:12 AM
imienia@nospam.no
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

Here is a close-up. -
http://images.fok.nl/upload/schedelfeaturemars.jpg
From the shades you can deduct it's peculiar form.
Can't believe they would ignore it.

There are actually some more strangly colored (blueish/whitish)
features in the same area that stand out from the rest of the picture.
Maybe it are remains of the mission's landing itself?
- http://images.fok.nl/upload/mars_fossils.jpg (at the right)

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:21:56 -0500, Tony Sivori
wrote:

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil, others
are skeptical.


I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the left of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori


  #6  
Old February 7th 04, 10:31 AM
imienia@nospam.no
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

(from sci.astro
Maybe a fulgurite?
- http://tektitesource.com/Fulgurites.html

On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 10:12:31 GMT, wrote:

Here is a close-up. -
http://images.fok.nl/upload/schedelfeaturemars.jpg
From the shades you can deduct it's peculiar form.
Can't believe they would ignore it.

There are actually some more strangly colored (blueish/whitish)
features in the same area that stand out from the rest of the picture.
Maybe it are remains of the mission's landing itself?
- http://images.fok.nl/upload/mars_fossils.jpg (at the right)

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:21:56 -0500, Tony Sivori
wrote:

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil, others
are skeptical.


I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the left of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori



  #7  
Old February 7th 04, 02:26 PM
Alfred A. Aburto Jr.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars


wrote in message

...
Here is a close-up. -
http://images.fok.nl/upload/schedelfeaturemars.jpg
From the shades you can deduct it's peculiar form.
Can't believe they would ignore it.



Where does one find the original jpg (at the JPL/NASA site)?



There are actually some more strangly colored (blueish/whitish)
features in the same area that stand out from the rest of the picture.
Maybe it are remains of the mission's landing itself?
- http://images.fok.nl/upload/mars_fossils.jpg (at the right)

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:21:56 -0500, Tony Sivori
wrote:

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,

others
are skeptical.


I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the left

of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori




  #8  
Old February 7th 04, 03:07 PM
imienia@nospam.no
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

-http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle..._2x-B009R1.jpg
Regards, mv

On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 14:26:59 GMT, "Alfred A. Aburto Jr."
wrote:


wrote in message

...
Here is a close-up. -
http://images.fok.nl/upload/schedelfeaturemars.jpg
From the shades you can deduct it's peculiar form.
Can't believe they would ignore it.



Where does one find the original jpg (at the JPL/NASA site)?



There are actually some more strangly colored (blueish/whitish)
features in the same area that stand out from the rest of the picture.
Maybe it are remains of the mission's landing itself?
- http://images.fok.nl/upload/mars_fossils.jpg (at the right)

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:21:56 -0500, Tony Sivori
wrote:

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,

others
are skeptical.

I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the left

of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori





  #9  
Old February 7th 04, 03:09 PM
Alfred A. Aburto Jr.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

wrote in message
...
-http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...0040202a/MSPan

_B1_2x-B009R1.jpg
Regards, mv


Thank you! I found it too.
Interesting stuff mv ...
Al



On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 14:26:59 GMT, "Alfred A. Aburto Jr."
wrote:


wrote in message

...
Here is a close-up. -
http://images.fok.nl/upload/schedelfeaturemars.jpg
From the shades you can deduct it's peculiar form.
Can't believe they would ignore it.



Where does one find the original jpg (at the JPL/NASA site)?



There are actually some more strangly colored (blueish/whitish)
features in the same area that stand out from the rest of the picture.
Maybe it are remains of the mission's landing itself?
- http://images.fok.nl/upload/mars_fossils.jpg (at the right)

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:21:56 -0500, Tony Sivori
wrote:

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag

drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,

others
are skeptical.

I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that

similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the

left
of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like

they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different

sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori







  #10  
Old February 7th 04, 03:09 PM
Alfred A. Aburto Jr.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Curious fossil-like artifact on Mars

wrote in message
...
-http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...0040202a/MSPan

_B1_2x-B009R1.jpg
Regards, mv


Thank you! I found it too.
Interesting stuff mv ...
Al



On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 14:26:59 GMT, "Alfred A. Aburto Jr."
wrote:


wrote in message

...
Here is a close-up. -
http://images.fok.nl/upload/schedelfeaturemars.jpg
From the shades you can deduct it's peculiar form.
Can't believe they would ignore it.



Where does one find the original jpg (at the JPL/NASA site)?



There are actually some more strangly colored (blueish/whitish)
features in the same area that stand out from the rest of the picture.
Maybe it are remains of the mission's landing itself?
- http://images.fok.nl/upload/mars_fossils.jpg (at the right)

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:21:56 -0500, Tony Sivori
wrote:

junekis wrote:

If you look at the image at
http://www.lyle.org/mars/oldmars/marstrue.jpg

in the lower right quadrant, just below the middle of the airbag

drag
marks, there is a series of oddly regular pairs of white dots in the
martian soil

Some people I have shown this to agree that it might be a fossil,

others
are skeptical.

I see what you are talking about. I also agree with Martin, that

similar
effects can be seen elsewhere in the same picture. The area to the

left
of
the large black rock in the center of the photo has several areas of
regularly spaced contrast and texture changes. It looks to me like

they
are wind ripple produced by the interaction of wind and different

sized
grains of sand.

--
Tony Sivori







 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Earth Has 'Blueberries' Like Mars (Forwarded) Peter Fairbrother Policy 10 June 20th 04 08:17 PM
Color image of Mars from Mars Express. Robert Clark Amateur Astronomy 8 December 9th 03 08:27 PM
"Europe lands on Mars" -- Media event at ESA/ESOC (Forwarded) Andrew Yee Astronomy Misc 0 November 25th 03 04:26 PM
Close encounters with Mars (Forwarded) Andrew Yee Astronomy Misc 2 August 27th 03 02:44 AM
NASA Selects UA 'Phoenix' Mission To Mars Ron Baalke Science 0 August 4th 03 10:48 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 SpaceBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.