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Sand moved by wind over the course of a day (from February 27, 2017)
Your browser does not support HTML video. Using two shots at a distance of one day made by the Mars Descent Imager (MARDI), NASA has created this animated gif that depicts the sand shifted by the wind, when there was no sandstorm. This animation depicts an area of about one meter and as you can see the displacements of the ripples of sand come to several centimeters.Compare this animation with the following animations taken during the current dust storm: https://facebook.com/PianetaMarte.MdM/videos/1785368298213022/ https://facebook.com/PianetaMarte.MdM/videos/1783334835083035/ What do you think?Do you really believe that wind and dust are the real drivers of this ongoing global storm?Original NASA animated GIF and related technical description: https://nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia21143/sand-moving-under-curiosity-one-day-to-next This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Curiosity Sol 2114, 18/07/2018 – Voyageurs’ hole the next day
Your browser does not support HTML video. These two images taken by Mastcan Right were taken about 29 hours apart and therefore in quite different lighting conditions.In fact, you can immediately see how the reliefs of the rock itself vary in visibility between one photo and another.Despite this, you can clearly see the effects of wind, as well as the effects of the laser shots for mineralogical analysis inside the hole itself… HD animated GIF: https://image.ibb.co/j4tbby/Curiosity_Sol2113_e_2114_Voyageurs_Date.gif Sol 2113, 17/07/2018 03:51:38 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=2113MR0112910010404680E01_DXXX&s=2113 Processed image (white balance and a slight increase in contrast and color saturation): https://image.ibb.co/mp12By/Curiosity_Sol2113_Voyageurs.jpg Sol 2114, 18/07/2018 09:01:49 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=2114MR0113160000404710E01_DXXX&s=2114 Processed image (white balance and a slight increase in contrast and color saturation): https://image.ibb.co/k3JWtd/Curiosity_Sol2014_Voyageurs.jpg This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Curiosity Sol 2114, July 18, 2018 – The Voyageurs Hole.
At 09:01:49 UTC the Mastcam Right imaged Voyageurs to verify the action of the wind on the material excavated two days before.Comparing this image with that of the previous Sol (see https://www.facebook.com/PianetaMarte.MdM/photos/a.1625578140858706.1073741828.1612043482212172/1781921341891051/) one can see many differences, although the center of the hole has been “cleaned up” by the laser shots for mineralogical analysis visible as dark dots.I also note that the sand surrounding the hole appears to be compacted into a wet-looking ring, as does the rest of the excavated material that has been deposited at the upper left edge of the rock. Processed image (white balance and a slight increase in contrast and color saturation): https://image.ibb.co/k3JWtd/Curiosity_Sol2014_Voyageurs.jpg Original image (raw): https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=2114MR0113160000404710E01_DXXX&s=2114 This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
“Storm chasers” on Mars in search of dusty secrets
Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), MAVEN and Curiosity are studying all aspects of this global storm, each from their own particular point of view and with their own instruments… This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Curiosity tracks in an early summer global storm
Your browser does not support HTML video. Between July 12 and 18, 2018, the Rear Hazcam Left captured the seven images that make up this sequence where it is possible to analyze the evolution over time of the tracks left by the rover itself.Note the way in which the tracks degrade, distorting and flattening already in the first three days!In addition to the tracks of Curiosity, the rest of the landscape shows small variations very interesting to understand what happens on the surface during a big global dust storm…Personally I have more the impression of a wet and cloudy environment rather than “stormy” and “dusty”, given the total absence of dust deposits around the wheel of Curiosity, as well as the total absence of dust on the protective glass placed in front of the lens of the Rear Hazcam Left. Sequence from Sol 2108 to 2114 and comparison of Sol 2108 with 2114: https://image.ibb.co/co9NDd/Curiosity_Sol2108_2114_Rear_Hazcam_Left_Denoise_Date_Comb.gif Sequence from Sol 2108 to 2114: https://image.ibb.co/bvzazJ/Curiosity_Sol2108_2114_Rear_Hazcam_Left_Denoise_Date.gif Comparison of G 2108 with 2114: https://image.ibb.co/j0J2eJ/Curiosity_Sol2108e2114_Rear_Hazcam_Left_Denoise_Date.gif Original images: Sol 2108, 2018-07-12 02:57:56 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_584634383EDR_F0712876RHAZ00311M_&s=2108 Sol 2109, 2018-07-13 02:57:58 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_584720784EDR_F0712876RHAZ00337M_&s=2109 Sol 2110, 2018-07-14 01:16:44 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_584801109EDR_F0712876RHAZ00337M_&s=2110 Sol 2111, 2018-07-15 04:13:02 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_584898086EDR_F0712876RHAZ00337M_&s=2111 Sol 2112, 2018-07-16 03:09:44 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_584980687EDR_F0712876RHAZ00337M_&s=2112 Sol 2113, 2018-07-17 08:19:53 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_585085695EDR_F0712876RHAZ00337M_&s=2113 Sol 2114, 2018-07-18 05:53:27 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=RLB_585163308EDR_F0712876RHAZ00337M_&s=2114 This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Curiosity Sol 2113, July 17, 2018 – The Voyageurs Hole.
At 03:51:38 UTC the Mastcam Right filmed Voyageurs to verify the outcome of the drilling of the previous Sol.Unfortunately, as can be seen from the photo, the drilling failed producing only a slight depression. The little material excavated was dispersed mostly towards the top of the photo, although it is unclear whether this was due to the wind or the slope of the rock surface itself. If the wind has played an important role in the dispersion of the excavated material we will find out comparing this photo with the one of the next Sol (today) that will be published tomorrow.Then Curiosity will start to move in search of rocks “easier” to drill, since Voyageurs is among the hardest rocks ever encountered by the rover inside the Gale crater. Processed image (white balance and a slight increase in contrast and color saturation): https://image.ibb.co/mp12By/Curiosity_Sol2113_Voyageurs.jpg Original image (raw): https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=2113MR0112910010404680E01_DXXX&s=2113 Sol 2114: Finishing Up at the Voyageurs Drill Site(Written by Mark Salvatore) https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/mars-rover-curiosity-mission-updates/?mu=sol-2114-finishing-up-at-the-voyageurs-drill-site This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Curiosity Sol 2112, July 16, 2018.
Your browser does not support HTML video. Between 02:28:08 and 03:00:14 the Front Hazcam Left takes a sequence of thirteen images that depict the new drilling attempt made by Curiosity.Unfortunately the attempt to drill “Voyageurs” was only partially successful, perhaps because the rock was harder than expected. At the moment it is not clear if other attempts to drill “Voyageurs” will follow or if it will proceed to the analysis of the hole produced seen through the other instruments of Curiosity…Note however how the haze behind does not show the slightest change in intensity, almost as if the wind was totally absent!But if the wind is negligible, what keeps all that “alleged” dust in the air? HD animated GIF: https://image.ibb.co/mviPpJ/Curiosity_Sol2112_Hazcam_Front_Date.gif Reference report: https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/mars-rover-curiosity-mission-updates/?mu=sol-2113-hard-as-a-rock Original images: 02:28:08 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584978192EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 02:28:45 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584978228EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 02:30:41 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584978344EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 02:32:14 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584978438EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 02:39:51 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584978894EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 02:48:48 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979431EDR_S0712876FHAZ00222M_&s=2112 02:50:32 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979535EDR_S0712876FHAZ00222M_&s=2112 02:52:16 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979639EDR_S0712876FHAZ00222M_&s=2112 02:54:00 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979744EDR_S0712876FHAZ00222M_&s=2112 02:55:44 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979847EDR_S0712876FHAZ00222M_&s=2112 02:56:24 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979888EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 02:57:09 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584979932EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 03:00:14 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=FLB_584980118EDR_S0712876FHAZ00214M_&s=2112 This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Mars taken by Damian Peach on July 10, 2018
As you can see, surface details are becoming visible again, albeit faintly; are we seeing the end of this storm?Where will “disappear” all the dust raised by this storm?In theory it should be deposited everywhere, but for now the images of Curiosity show no deposit of dust…. This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Mars taken by Anthony Wesley on July 14, 2018
This very good astrophotographer’s shot also seems to confirm the decline of the sandstorm.In the center of the image you can see the Marineris valley as a clear line, while on the left you can see the tops of the four main volcanoes…. This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.
Following the evolution of hydrothermal activity in the Hrad valley on Mars.
Yet another study that highlights how hydrothermal activity on Mars may have prolonged and extended the chances of having environments favorable to the emergence and development of indigenous life forms…Although the original publication is paid, I found two freely accessible publications, by the same team of researchers, that excellently describe the gist of this research. “Mapping Hrad Vallis, Mars” 3rd Planetary Data Workshop 2017 (LPI Contrib. No. 1986). https://hou.usra.edu/meetings/planetdata2017/pdf/7080.pdf “EVIDENCE OF LAVA FLOW INFLATION NEAR HRAD VALLIS, MARS” 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083) https://hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2018/pdf/2313.pdf This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.