Monthly Archives: August 2014

Curiosity: Rocky road ahead

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

Sol 733, August 29, 2014. Looking toward the northwest with the Navcam (three-frame composite), across the plateau where Curiosity must go to reach a trafficable section of the valley network leading to Mount Sharp. NASA description (middle frame): This image … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Ridge between two north polar scarps

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

Ridge between two steep north polar interior scarps. Beautiful Mars series.

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Opportunity: Flash-memory reformat planned

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

An increasing frequency of computer resets on NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has prompted the rover team to make plans to reformat the rover’s flash memory. The resets, including a dozen this month, interfere with the rover’s planned science activities, … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Outcrops & strata near Meridiani Planum

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

Outcrops and strata near Meridiani Planum. Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: Defrosting spots on Chasma Boreale dunes

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

Defrosting spots on Chasma Boreale dunes in Chasma Boreale. Beautiful Mars series.

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CRISM: Mesospheric cloud above the Argyre Basin

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

This image shows a limb (meaning a view of the horizon) of the planet where the surface can be seen at the bottom with an orange tint, a cloud can be seen in the atmosphere, and space is seen above … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Dark slope streaks

Posted on August 29, 2014 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, August 29, 2014. Today’s VIS image shows dark slope streaks in an unnamed crater in Terra Sabaea. These features are believed to be formed by material moving downslope, removing the dust cover and revealing darker … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: ‘Multi-sol planning’

Posted on August 28, 2014 by rburnham

Sols 732-734, August 28, 2014, update from USGS Scientist Ken Herkenhoff: “Yesterday we did not receive as much data as expected, so could not drive as originally planned.  Therefore, the Sol 732 plan was dominated by targeted… [More at link]

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HiRISE: Flow in mesa valley in Protonilus Mensae

Posted on August 28, 2014 by rburnham

Flow leaving a mesa valley in Protonilus Mensae. Beautiful Mars series.

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HiRISE: Mantled terrain in southern mid-latitudes

Posted on August 28, 2014 by rburnham

The mid-latitudes of Mars (about 30 to 60 degrees, north and south) are covered in ice-rich mantling deposits in varying states of degradation. This mantle is thought to be deposited as snow during periods when the angle of the tilt … Continue reading →

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