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Mars imaged in good visibility conditions on March 31

By Marco De Marco / April 10, 2018

The great astrophotographer Damian Peach gives us another beautiful image of Mars taken through the telescope.From the left, we can see the color image followed by the b/w image in red, green and blue.In the image taken with the blue filter is easier to see the cloud formations, such as the orographic cloud visible in the upper right located above the volcano Elysium Mons.Also in the image taken with the blue filter, you can see a lighter equatorial band (probably cirrus) as well as a particular brightness of the left edge (west limbus) due to the persistence of night fog until the early morning hours. It is also possible to notice the presence of clouds near the polar caps. This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Chromatic variations taken from Opportunity

By Marco De Marco / April 10, 2018

Your browser does not support HTML video. The two photos shown here in sequence were both taken with Opportunity’s Pancam and with the same filters, but nine days apart.Since each individual image is the sum of three photos taken at slightly different times through three different filters in the three basic RGB colors, I chose to refer to the photo taken with the green filter for time references.Starting from this assumption, the local solar time has varied by 1h 43min and 36sec “Martian” corresponding to a shift of the illumination source (the Sun) of 25.9 °. I think it is rather unlikely that such a small shift of the illumination source (the Sun) can be at the basis of such an evident chromatic variation!Note also that the color variations affect only the green-blue areas and not the reddish areas.It should be added that the two photos have been taken with slightly different exposure times, but this may have affected only the saturation of the color and not the hue of the color itself (chrominance).I conclude by pointing out that such color variations are difficult to justify with arguments of a simply physical-chemical nature and that I find much more likely a variation in the growth of lichens.Far from being proof, it is certainly a very good clue! HD animated GIF: https://image.ibb.co/nHtdrc/Oppy_Sol5042e5051_X2_Date.gif For more information about the individual images: Opportunity Sol 5042, 31 March 2018 14:40:16 LTST (green) https://www.facebook.com/PianetaMarte.MdM/photos/a.1625578140858706.1073741828.1612043482212172/1659829317433588/ Opportunity Sol 5051, April 9, 2018 12:56:40 LTST (green) https://www.facebook.com/PianetaMarte.MdM/photos/a.1625578140858706.1073741828.1612043482212172/1668172363265950/ This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Opportunity Sol 5051, April 9, 2018

By Marco De Marco / April 10, 2018

Between 23:06:10 UTC and 23:09:33 UTC the Pancam of Opportunity takes three images with narrow band filters in the three basic colors, from which it was possible to derive this extraordinary true color image of these Martian rocks.They continue to shoot the area around Opportunity always showing a wide variety of colors, unlike the photos of Curiosity that always need to be processed to show a minimum of color variations.Do you recognize this rock?Well, if you sift through the previous photos you may be surprised … Watch out for the next post… Surprise coming soon! 😉 Unprocessed HD RGB image (raw): https://image.ibb.co/cK2trc/Oppy_Sol5051_01.jpg Original BN images: Red (735nm with 20nm bandwidth)23:06:10 UTC12:54:59 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5051/1P576582122EFFD227P2355L2M1.HTML Green (535nm with 20nm bandwidth)23:07:54 UTC12:56:40 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5051/1P576582226EFFD227P2355L5M1.HTML Blue (432nm with 32nm bandwidth)23:09:33 UTC12:58:16 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5051/1P576582325EFFD227P2355L7M1.HTML This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Curiosity Sol 2015, April 7, 2018

By Marco De Marco / April 9, 2018

Your browser does not support HTML video. The ChemCam Remote Micro-Imager captures a rock type never before seen on Mars!There’s sure to be a lot of talk about the curious structure of this rock and the implications in reconstructing the ancient climate present within Gale Crater. HD animated GIF: https://image.ibb.co/jrFBux/Curiosity_Chemcam_Sol2015_Date.gif Original images: 14:06:45 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=CR0_576380190PRC_F0691552CCAM03015L1&s=2015 14:12:41 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=CR0_576380546PRC_F0691552CCAM03015L1&s=2015 14:18:55 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=CR0_576380920PRC_F0691552CCAM03015L1&s=2015 14:28:09 UTC https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=CR0_576381473PRC_F0691552CCAM03015L1&s=2015 This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Curiosity Sol 2014, April 6, 2018

By Marco De Marco / April 9, 2018

At 11:24:16 UTC, 12:59:05 local solar time, Curiosity’s Mastcam Right takes this very interesting photo of some rocks adjacent to the rover itself.The photo presented here has been subjected to white balance and a slight increase in micro-contrast and color saturation, to make more evident color variations.Despite the great distance between Opportunity and Curiosity, even in this case we can observe patches of bluish-green color that partially or totally cover some of the rocks visible in this shot.Is this a pure coincidence, or a seasonal phenomenon that affects (at least) the equatorial zones of Mars? HD processed image: https://image.ibb.co/fOb36c/Curiosity_Sol2014.jpg Original raw image: https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=2014MR0106290040902678E01_DXXX&s=2014 This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Opportunity Sol 5049, April 7, 2018

By Marco De Marco / April 9, 2018

Between 22:24:29 UTC and 22:22:32 UTC the Opportunity’s Pancam takes three images with narrow band filters in the three basic colors, from which it was possible to obtain this extraordinary true color image of these Martian rocks.Although in this photo the rocks seem to have a grayish base color, contrary to the two photos shown in the two previous posts in which the base color was reddish, even here we observe the “usual” green-blue spots with curious textures, almost as if it were a kind of surface encrustation… Unprocessed RGB HD image (raw): https://image.ibb.co/d4VM9x/Oppy_Sol5049_03.jpg Original BN images: Red (735nm with 20nm bandwidth)22:24:29 UTC13:31:11 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576406832EFFD225P2352L2M1.HTML Green (535nm with 20nm bandwidth)22:26:49 UTC13:33:27 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576406972EFFD225P2352L5M1.HTML Blue (432nm with 32nm bandwidth)22:27:02 UTC13:33:40 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576406985EFFD225P2352L7M1.HTML This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Opportunity Sol 5049, April 7, 2018

By Marco De Marco / April 9, 2018

Between 22:19:59 UTC and 22:22:32 UTC Opportunity’s Pancam takes three images with narrowband filters in the three basic colors, from which it was possible to derive this extraordinary true-color image of these Martian rocks.Note the rock in the lower left, greenish-blue on one side reddish at the top; not that the others are any less important, quite the contrary! Unprocessed (raw) RGB HD image: https://image.ibb.co/iBOV2H/Oppy_Sol5049_02.jpg Original BN images: Red (735nm with 20nm bandwidth)22:19:59 UTC13:26:48 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576406562EFFD225P2352L2M1.HTML Green (535nm with 20nm bandwidth)22:22:18 UTC13:29:03 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576406701EFFD225P2352L5M1.HTML Blue (432nm with 32nm bandwidth)22:22:32 UTC13:29:17 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576406715EFFD225P2352L7M1.HTML This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Opportunity Sol 5049, April 7, 2018

By Marco De Marco / April 9, 2018

Between 22:06:54 UTC and 22:09:29 UTC Opportunity’s Pancam takes three images with narrow band filters in the three basic colors, from which it was possible to derive this extraordinary true color image of these Martian rocks.The color variations observed in the rocks taken from this picture lead me to hypothesize that they are due to something that affects only the outer surface of the rocks themselves. Obviously it is only a hypothesis and not a certainty …What is your opinion? Unprocessed RGB HD image (raw): https://image.ibb.co/mQVeCH/Oppy_Sol5049_01.jpg Original BN images: Red (735nm with 20nm bandwidth)22:06:54 UTC13:14:04 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576405777EFFD225P2352L2M1.HTML Green (535nm with 20nm bandwidth)22:09:15 UTC13:16:21 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576405918EFFD225P2352L5M1.HTML Blue (432nm with 32nm bandwidth)22:09:29 UTC13:16:35 LTST https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/all/1/p/5049/1P576405932EFFD225P2352L7M1.HTML This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

ExoMars ready to launch the scientific part of the mission

By Marco De Marco / April 9, 2018

The final orbit has finally been reached!Now we start with the calibration of scientific instruments and soon will begin the real scientific observations of gases that could indicate the presence of life on Mars. Let’s get ready to hear some good ones!!! This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.

Martian water history, looking in detail at Gale crater

By Marco De Marco / April 6, 2018

An eternal diatribe between scientists to determine whether Mars in the early days was hot and humid, or if it has always been arid and cold.So if on the one hand has just been published a study on the ancient “oceans” of Mars (see https://www.facebook.com/PianetaMarte.MdM/posts/1662826850467168), in this research is trying to show how the liquid water has always occurred in a sporadic and localized and how the Martian climate has always been arid and icy. This is a beautiful example of how science is constantly evolving and how dissent is an integral part of the process of verification and comparison!No more of those boorish fundamentalists (mostly louts and ignorant) who maliciously confuse dissent with conspiracy! This post has been automatically translated. See the original post here.