Martian Soil in 3-D

NASA - JPL ^ | 1-16-04 | NASA

[Phil V.]

This image taken by the microscopic imager on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit shows the powdery soil of Mars in 3-D. It is the sharpest look yet at the surface of another planet. The microscopic imager is located on the rover's instrument deployment device, or "arm." . . .

This close-up look at a patch of martian soil is the sharpest image ever taken of another planet. The picture was captured by the microscopic imager located on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit's instrument deployment device, or "arm." Scientists liken the alien soil to clumpy cocoa powder. The upper left corner of the soil patch is illuminated by direct sunlight and thus appears brighter. The actual size of the patch is about 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) across.

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[luvbach1]

Looks like coarse stucco to me.

[Bobby777]

it tasted funny too ... like European cuisine or something ... but, enough BBQ sauce and it grilled up just fine ...

[Age of Reason]

You know, if you reall stare at the bottom photo, a hand print and a three-toed footprint seem to be visible, as well as what might be writing.

No really, look again.

[leadpenny]

Do you suppose it will be a carbonate?

Well, of course. What's a carbonate?

[okie01]

I'm just guessing, too. But if the frozen water vapor was physically bound into the soil (e.g., like clay), I would imagine the crust could take on the plastic consistency suggested by the drag-marks of the retracting airbags.

[Joe Hadenuf]

That may be some optical aberration. It seems almost transparent.

[ambrose]

That's no rock.

[realpatriot]

You shoulda taken the rest of the thing and put on on the barbie low-and-slo with some garlic and cayenne! Doncha know, thems good eatin!

[NativeNewYorker]

I thought it was carbonITE.

[Phil V.]

Limestone is a carbonate. It would be suggestive of an aqueous past where CO2 (carbon dioxide) combined with, say Calcium in a water solution to form limestone.

[brazucausa]

Amazing. Thank you for ping. Is it this something.

[ambrose]

Some of the pics show the mountains off in the distance... that's where the action is.

[Empireoftheatom48]

Like to be on mars ping thanks

[Bobby777]

I was afraid it might play a greeting from Kurt Waldheim ... hoo boy, can you imagine if any aliens (I don't believe they exist but if they did) found that thing and analyzed the voice? ... they might come after us! (reminds me of 'Contact')

[razorback-bert]

Looks as if it could be ash and balsamic rock.

[razorback-bert]

The top photo looks like siltstone.

[brazucausa]

We have not being able to get more pictures as these for long time. This is straight from a planet that we only know from many different civilizations that means war. After all Mars was always associated with that. However I bet you down the road, though many movies were already made about, we will have some sci-fi playing landing on mars and founding nothing zippy nada. What we are founding there will take us a time to process and figure out how humans can land there. Just one question how we are going to bring spirit back to earth?

[realpatriot]

"I was afraid it might play a greeting from Kurt Waldheim ... hoo boy, can you imagine if any aliens (I don't believe they exist but if they did) found that thing and analyzed the voice? ... they might come after us!"

Okay, not so low-and slo! And even MORE cayenne!

[Phil V.]

. . . balsamic rock . . .

Would that be balsamic vinegar ore?

[Jammz]

It's not carbonate. It's leftover TOFU that marvin the martian left after his last chinese take-away.