THEMIS: Olympia Undae

Posted on August 13, 2014 by rburnham

Dunes of Olympia Undae (THEMIS_IOTD_20140813)THEMIS Image of the Day, August 13, 2014. Today’s VIS image shows part of the margin of Olympia Undae.

More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

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Colliding atmospheres: Mars vs C/Siding Spring

Posted on August 12, 2014 by rburnham

Comet-auroraOn October 19, 2014, Comet Siding Spring will pass by Mars only 132,000 km away — which would be like a comet passing about 1/3 of the distance between Earth and the Moon. The nucleus of the comet won’t hit Mars, but there could be a different kind of collision. “We hope to witness two atmospheres colliding,” explains David Brain of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)…. “It is possible,” says Brain, “that the atmosphere of the comet will interact with the atmosphere of Mars.  This could lead to some remarkable effects — including Martian auroras….” [More at link, including video]

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HiRISE: On the majesty of Martian dunes

Posted on August 12, 2014 by rburnham

tumblr_na5ujg8a8G1rlz4gso2_1280On the majesty of Martian dunes. Beautiful Mars series.

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Curiosity: Sol 712, August 7, 2014

Posted on August 12, 2014 by rburnham

0712MR0030300290402561E01_DXXXDark slope streak, micro-edition (lower left). With large-scale dark slope streaks, scientists believe they are avalanches of light-tone dust that uncover the underlying dark surface. However, this small-scale streak appears to be a finger of dark material lying on top of the dusty light-toned slope. A couple other small streaks also appear to come from below the rock outcrops, but are lighter in tone, suggesting they are older, and dust has partly erased them.

NASA description: This image was taken by Mastcam: Right (MAST_RIGHT) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 712 (2014-08-07 14:38:40 UTC).

Sol 712 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location map.

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Opportunity: Sol 3750, August 11, 2014

Posted on August 12, 2014 by rburnham

1R461097256EFFCG__P1301L0M1On the eastern slope of Wdowiak Ridge, looking up at the knob with the left-side rear Hazcam.

Opportunity raw images, its latest mission status, and a location map.

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THEMIS: Polar dunes

Posted on August 12, 2014 by rburnham

Polar dunes and ice (THEMIS_IOTD_20140812)THEMIS Image of the Day, August 12, 2014. The dunes in this VIS image are located right at the edge of the polar cap.

More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

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Curiosity update: ‘On solid ground’

Posted on August 12, 2014 by rburnham

Sol 714, August 10, 2014, update on Curiosity from USGS Scientist Ryan Anderson: “The Sol 713 drive got us out of the sand and onto solid (albeit rocky) ground! For Sol 714, the plan is to drive the rest of the way out of Hidden Valley to…” [More at link]

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HiRISE: Streakers on Mars

Posted on August 11, 2014 by rburnham

tumblr_n9ya0uWgcO1rlz4gso1_1280Streakers on Mars. Beautiful Mars series.

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Opportunity: Sol 3749, August 10, 2014

Posted on August 11, 2014 by rburnham

3749-panNavcam charts a path toward the knob on Wdowiak Ridge, with the rover aiming to drive to the east (left) of the knob and around behind it, then up the slope of Cape Tribulation (two-frame composite).

Opportunity raw images, its latest mission status, and a location map. (A shortcut to Sol 3749 Navcam raw images is here.)

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Curiosity: Sol 714, August 9, 2014

Posted on August 11, 2014 by rburnham

714-pan2Hidden Valley (center) offered Curiosity softer driving than the rock-strewn surface of Zabriskie Plateau, but apparently too soft for good driving. So the rover has backed up and out of Hidden Valley onto the Zabriskie Plateau caprock on the valley’s northern side (three-frame composite from the Navcam).

Sol 714 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location map.

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