APOD 14th December 2005 Shadows

[JohnD]

All,
The history of criticism and cynicism about shadows in space exploration pics is shameful - eg Apollo - and I enjoy this simulated pic of a Mars Rover on its ground, but ......

The shadow of the Rover is shown as diffuse. Shadows in real pics are sharp. Is this supposed to be during a dust storm?

I know, picky-picky, it's only a simulated pic etc.

What do you think?

John

[l3p3r]

well, for the purposes of showing the rover to scale with the landscape, yes that is a little picky :p

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/mer/2005 ... 23-540.gif

I see what you mean though.
I expect the main reason is that diffuse shadows are easier to draw onto the existing image.

[Empeda2]

Hmmm.. difficult to say - Mars has quite a dusty atmosphere, and looking at the 'photo' it looks as though it's being simulated late evening/early morning - more dust to go through - less sharper shadow (the pictures in the link above look like the sun's almost directly overhead...).

Anyway, still 8)

[S. Bilderback]

Midday on Mars is about as bright as approaching twilight on Earth.

[Empeda2]

I was looking more at the angle of the shadow - but that's something I forgot of course....

[ta152h0]

The angle of the shadows indicate a low Sun angle and there is not enough atmosphere under the electric panels to diffuse the light. I wish I had the ability to draw that good............