APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2024 Jun 05)

[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 Perseverance rover exploring Mars. Perseverance has been examining the Red Planet since 2021, finding evidence of its complex history of volcanism and ancient flowing water, and sending breathtaking images across the inner Solar System. Pictured here in February of 2024, Perseverance looks opposite the Sun and across Neretva Vallis in Jezero Crater, with a local hill visible at the top of the frame. The distinctively non-human shadow of the car-sized rover is visible below center, superposed on scattered rocks. Perseverance, now working without its flying companion Ingenuity, continues to search Mars for signs of ancient life.

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[Ann]

APOD Robot wrote:

What if you saw your shadow on Mars and it wasn't human? Then you might be the Perseverance rover exploring Mars.

Ann

[alex555]

There is a small hollow on the front of the sort of white box located under the small cylinder, just to the right of the wheel. Maybe it's a stone when passing through a dust devil?

Alex

[Mats_Å]

The shadows are sharper on Mars than on Earth, because the Sun is farther away and thus more concentrated on the sky.

[DavidN]

I've seen numerous pictures from different Mars landers/rovers and they all impress me as resembling scenes from the Sahara desert (minus any earth lifeforms of course!) However, this time I was struck by the sky. With so thin an atmosphere, is it just the suspended dust particles that make it so bright or is this a processing artifact of the imagery? I understand the color of the sky is due to the dust but I wondered if it ever settled enough to clear or is the current image a "clear day on Mars?" A comment on the current weather at site when the images were taken would be useful!

Thanks!

[johnnydeep]

There is a small hollow on the front of the sort of white box located under the small cylinder, just to the right of the wheel. Maybe it's a stone when passing through a dust devil?

Alex

Not sure what you're referring to. This dent perhaps?

[Avalon]

Is that Mt. Sharp?

[alex555]

There is a small hollow on the front of the sort of white box located under the small cylinder, just to the right of the wheel. Maybe it's a stone when passing through a dust devil?

Alex

Not sure what you're referring to. This dent perhaps?


dent on perseverence.jpg

Yes, this one.

Alex.

[johnnydeep]

There is a small hollow on the front of the sort of white box located under the small cylinder, just to the right of the wheel. Maybe it's a stone when passing through a dust devil?

Alex

Not sure what you're referring to. This dent perhaps?


dent on perseverence.jpg

Yes, this one.

Alex.

Well, then your guess about what caused the dent is as good as mine!