Unusual Looking Martian Rock

NONE | 1-9-04 | Orion78

[Orion78]

The original image from NASA is HERE

Location of Rock in Question

Close Up

[Orion78]

Just wanted to know if anybody out there noticed this wierd looking rock. I've emailed NASA to see if they noticed it and to ask if it is an "artifact" of the picture or a shadow. I also asked, if it really is a rectangular hole, how could it have been formed. I haven't received a reply yet.

If it is really is a hole in the rock, then hopefully this will be a target for the rover when it finally rolls onto the surface.

Let me know what you FReepers out there think.

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[doug from upland]

The rock sort of looks like Sheila Jackson Lee.

[cyborg]

Looks like a log cabin to me LOL

[Prime Choice]

I looked closer at the rock, and the area you point out is not really rectangular. It's nearly rectangular, but -- on closer inspection -- the edges show as naturally-occuring slight curves no different than what has been seen on terran and lunar rocks.

[farmfriend]

Looks like a Chevy.

[Charles Henrickson]

It's a spider hole!

So that's where Osama's been hiding!

[Orion78]

[uglybiker]

She's still trying to find the flag.

(You ain't saying that Sheila Jackson Lee rocks, are you?)

[Johnny_Cipher]

Its a twister. Its a twister.

Or swamp gas.

[Brett66]

Hoagland's all over this:

Machinery Found at Spirit Landing Site

[Orion78]

It does look a bit like a door. Maybe martians are just super tiny ;)

[cyborg]

Tom Daschle's vacation home

[Orion78]

A little far fetched on that webpage. Nothing I saw there looked anything like artifacts or machinery.

[WackyKat]

Looks like an engine block from an old Ford pickup

[microgood]

There were some pieces of the airbags laying around the landing sight. Are you sure it is not part of that debris?

[martin_fierro]

That shore does look like one of them there purty cabins that Bob Ross paints.

[AppauledAtAppeasementConservat]

You noticed it too? So did I just a couple of hours ago. Downloaded the full 64mb tiff to look at it in further detail.

I could't even begin to hazard a guess but did you notice what looks like stratagraphic lines on the facing side as well?

Interesting. I doubt even the best scientists will even hazard a guess much less speculate in public. Almost looks like a megacrystic metamorphic rock. Could explain the rectangular hole on the side. Crystal falling out a long time ago maybe and then sand blasting could have enlarged it? Who knows?

Any geologists on the forum?

[Orion78]

You are suggesting it is probably just a shadow then? I do agree, on closer inspection it is not exactly rectangular on the top.

[Orion78]

I am not sure at all. That is why I posted and why I emailed NASA to ask. It could be a piece from the lander or the airbags, but it appears to be a rock in all respects and is even the same color as the rocks around it.