The Mars "Thread" Thread

MER raw images ^

[ElkGroveDan]

At NASA's Thursday JPL briefing on the Mars rovers, the issue of an unusual object in one of the photos from the microscopic imager at the Opportunity landing site was discussed.

On SOL 19, several images taken with the microscopic imager of the soil and the "mars berries" appear to show a hair-like object. Steve Squires with NASA has speculated that the airbags bouncing around that crater may have shed a whole lot of fabric and this could simply be a stray thread. Squires also suggested that as they move away from the bounce-down sites they will continue to look for these objects. He noted that if we continue to see them, well then we'll have to reconsider what we are looking at here.

For your interest, here is one of the pictures that shows a thread (or hair, or root, or beastie). You probably can't see it in this smaller shot, but if you click on the photo it will take you to an even larger image. Look in the upper right hand corner, immediately below the largest pebble in that corner.

Anyone care to speculate? Is this a thread from the airbag fabric? Is it something else?

[ElkGroveDan]

You can find the stream of the Feb. 19th NASA/JPL press conference at http://www.c-span.org

[ElkGroveDan]

ping

[farmfriend]

bttt

[rickylc]

Hey!!, That perfectly round object is a tennis ball!!! i can even see the seams! how did that get to mars?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Hey!!, That perfectly round object is a tennis ball!!! i can even see the seams! how did that get to mars?

A really high lob?

[Caipirabob]

Why are they bothering with hairs? I'm waiting for them to find all my socks...

[js1138]

Looking closely at the "hair" I believe it is an artifact or error in the image file, or in the processing of the image file. Either that or my cat has been there.

[ElkGroveDan]

Looking closely at the "hair" I believe it is an artifact or error in the image file,

Squires admitted that this and other "hairs" have appeared in other images.

[Consort]

...but if you click on the photo it will take you to an even larger image.

When you click on the image, you get a smaller image. The image looks like scree on regolith.

[js1138]

Having looked at it in a photo editor that can magnify to the point where individual pixels are clearly visible, I believe it is an artifact caused by the way Internet Explorer renders the image. At the pixel level the thread simply isn't there. It's the Old Man of the Mountain effect.

[ElkGroveDan]

When you click on the image, you get a smaller image

If you are using Internet Explorer, after clicking on the link, float your curser/mouse over the "smaller" image that comes up and a little square will appear in the lower right-hand corner. Click on the square and it will restore the image to full size.

[jigsaw]

In related news this afternoon,
Bill Clinton spontaneously
denied placing these rocks on Mars.
"Nor did I at Normandy," he insisted,
handing an ice bucket to a bruised,
female acquaintance next to him.

[yoe]

What about the tennis ball in the lower left? You can barely make out the seams.........

Seriously, isn't this wonderful - just unbelievable the technology we have!

[ElkGroveDan]

The scientists at NASA disagree. They believe it is there, only the source of the object seems to be in question.

[yoe]

LOL! Great minds think alike all you tennis buffs............

[js1138]

I certainly respect a professional opinion over my own. But it is risky to speculate on objects that are pixel width. I'm not surprised they haven't identified it.

[TN4Liberty]

Spider webs.

(Many of you will have Ziggy Stardust flashbacks now.)

[narby]

Sasquatch fur....

[CommandoFrank]

Jimmy Hoffa?

[LibWhacker]

Freeper blengi posted the following comment on one of the other threads about this subject:

"hmmm, maybe my eyes deceive, but what about the latest microscopic pics from spirit where multiple fibres seem to fan out from common point? For example in - http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/2/m/046/2M130463512EFF0900P2953M2M1.JPG - top/rightish near the sharp rock, 3 hairlike projections seemingly extend out left to right from central point!"

So "threads" are showing up not only where Opportunity landed, but also 120+ meters from Spirit's landing site.