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APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 4:06 am
by 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.
[/b]
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:21 am
by 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.
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 6:01 am
by NoelC
What a fantastic job done by all involved with these rovers!
The viability of long-term solar electric power is surely proven.
-Noel
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 6:50 am
by Boomer12k
If it sees its shadow, does that mean 6 more weeks of Winter?????
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 7:56 am
by ft
Hate to say this, but don't they look like boot prints in front of, and between the wheels?
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 9:11 am
by owlice
ft wrote: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.
![Sad :-(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Go, Opportunity!
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 1:12 pm
by orin stepanek
Great millage we got from the two little rovers.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 1:20 pm
by 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!!!
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 3:15 pm
by 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.
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 3:21 pm
by biddie67
Yeh - Fred was rather persistent over here also - there was some difficulty in sending him on his way ....
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 3:31 pm
by 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.
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 4:10 pm
by bystander
Fred??? Guess I missed something.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:13 pm
by orin stepanek
bystander wrote:Fred??? Guess I missed something.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
This fred?[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9MA0eW8 ... detailpage[/youtube]
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:45 pm
by 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.
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 5:51 pm
by Sam
bystander wrote:Fred??? Guess I missed something.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Maybe they're talking about the Turing Test link:
http://www.turinghub.com/ ?
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 3:31 am
by Beyond
bystander wrote:Fred??? Guess I missed something.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
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.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 3:26 pm
by 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
Re: APOD: Shadow of a Martian Robot (2011 May 08)
Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 5:53 pm
by 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