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

[APOD Robot]

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.

<< Previous APOD

Discuss Any APOD

Next APOD >>

[/b]

[fatcitymax]

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.

[NoelC]

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

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

-Noel

[Boomer12k]

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

[ft]

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

[owlice]

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!

[orin stepanek]

Great millage we got from the two little rovers.

[biddie67]

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!!!

[Beyond]

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.

[biddie67]

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

[Beyond]

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.

[bystander]

Fred??? Guess I missed something.

[orin stepanek]

Fred??? Guess I missed something.

This fred?[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9MA0eW8 ... detailpage[/youtube]

[BMAONE23]

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.

[Sam]

Fred??? Guess I missed something.

Maybe they're talking about the Turing Test link: http://www.turinghub.com/ ?

[Beyond]

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.

[Kaplaa]

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

[rstevenson]

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