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What's that? New rock in Mars rover photos baffles scientists, fans
chron.com ^ | January 16, 2014 | Carol Christian |

Posted on 01/16/2014 6:44:06 PM PST by BenLurkin

Practically overnight, an unexplained piece of rock has shown up on photos from NASA's Mars rover Opportunity, according to the digital Russian TV network RT (Russia Today).

The rover hasn't moved in over a month, as it waits for better weather, but a photo taken on Sol 3540 (Jan. 8, or the 3,540th Martian solar day since the Opportunity rover landed) shows a rock that wasn't visible in previous photos taken on Sol 3536.

...

Staffers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California who maintain the rover camera (pancam) database for NASA have named the rock Pinnacle Island.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: mars; nasa; opportunity; stevesquyres
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1 posted on 01/16/2014 6:44:06 PM PST by BenLurkin
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2 posted on 01/16/2014 6:46:13 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Near miss meteor?


3 posted on 01/16/2014 6:46:50 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: BenLurkin

Alien dung.


4 posted on 01/16/2014 6:47:42 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: BenLurkin

Now that I see the pic I’m thinking more along the lines of windblown pumice or something.


5 posted on 01/16/2014 6:48:54 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: BenLurkin

If you guys don’t know the Appian Way by now,………...


6 posted on 01/16/2014 6:49:07 PM PST by Doc Savage ("I've shot people I like a lot more,...for a lot less!" Raylan Givins)
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To: BenLurkin
Lots can happen in 4 sols. Was it a holiday weekend?

/johnny

7 posted on 01/16/2014 6:50:27 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: BenLurkin

They were looking for bacteria- maybe it’s the rock of phages...

Looks like it’s in both photos to me.


8 posted on 01/16/2014 6:53:48 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: BenLurkin

Wall-E brought it a gift?


9 posted on 01/16/2014 6:55:01 PM PST by NonValueAdded (It's not the penalty, it's the lack of coverage on 1 Jan. Think about it.)
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To: Doc Savage
If you guys don’t know the Appian Way by now,………...

Are the cart ruts 4 foot 8-1/2 inches apart?

10 posted on 01/16/2014 6:57:50 PM PST by BwanaNdege
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To: cripplecreek

Windblown pumice would be extremely unlikely. The atmospheric pressure is so low on Mars there wouldn’t be enough PSI to move a rock, I should think. But I am not sure.


11 posted on 01/16/2014 7:00:15 PM PST by bolobaby
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To: BenLurkin

12 posted on 01/16/2014 7:00:23 PM PST by Mannaggia l'America
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To: cripplecreek
Now that I see the pic I’m thinking more along the lines of windblown pumice or something.

The atmosphere of Mars is too thin to blow things around (except the finest dust.) This stone could be a piece of a meteoroid, or something that said meteoroid struck somewhere nearby. There are many craters on Mars, since the atmosphere cannot burn the incoming rocks as it does on Earth.

13 posted on 01/16/2014 7:03:03 PM PST by Greysard
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To: JRandomFreeper

Geez, these guys never seen a crawdad hole before.


14 posted on 01/16/2014 7:04:02 PM PST by OftheOhio (never could dance but always could kata - Romeo company)
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To: Jet Jaguar

LOL first thing I thought, and laughed at post of Kirk & Alien.


15 posted on 01/16/2014 7:04:23 PM PST by huldah1776
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To: mrsmith
maybe it’s the rock of phages...

You should be punished.

/johnny

16 posted on 01/16/2014 7:04:31 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: mrsmith

“Looks like it’s in both photos to me”

Yes it does, if those are supposed to be the 4 day apart photos.


17 posted on 01/16/2014 7:06:07 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: BenLurkin

Relax! It’s just a candy wrapper.


18 posted on 01/16/2014 7:06:55 PM PST by Islander7 (There is no septic system so vile, so filthy, the left won't drink from to further their agenda)
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To: BenLurkin

Are those before & after photos?
That rock is present in both photos.


19 posted on 01/16/2014 7:07:43 PM PST by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: BenLurkin

Fungus!


20 posted on 01/16/2014 7:07:47 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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