Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 #1 Share Posted December 8, 2016 (edited) I was recently looking at a "selfie" taken by the Curiosity rover and, like many people, wondered why the robotic arm holding the camera can't be seen. The entire rover is shown, so the place where the arm joins with the rover ought to be visible. I am sure some conspiracy theorists have jumped on this as "proof" Curiosity isn't really on Mars. I looked into this and learned that the selfie images are actually made up of a number of images stitched together. I also learned that JPL opted to stitch them together in such away that the arm can't be seen. This obviously adds to the aesthetic qualities of the images. However, does it not leave NASA open to charges that for aesthetic - or other - reasons they have manipulated any number of images? I don't for a moment believe that have, but I am sure there are people who will claim that is the case. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_(rover)#/media/File:Curiosity_Self-Portrait_at_'Big_Sky'_Drilling_Site.jpg Edited December 8, 2016 by Derek Willis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted December 8, 2016 #2 Share Posted December 8, 2016 The CT crowd will find conspiracy no matter what you do so why bother trying to appease them in any way. It's a beautiful picture of a weathered, old, planetary explorer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorvir Posted December 8, 2016 #3 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Dammit. Looking at that thing....I'm feeling a lot of pride right now seeing this old workhorse carry on after so many years at such a distance on a lonely, cold world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 Author #4 Share Posted December 8, 2016 It is an amazing image. And it is amazing to compare the image - indeed all the images we now have of Mars - with the very first image from the Mariner 4 probe in 1965. The progress in half a century is incredible. Certainly within the next half century there will be selfies taken by the people who have traveled to Mars. I hope I am around to see the start of that! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorvir Posted December 8, 2016 #5 Share Posted December 8, 2016 5 minutes ago, Derek Willis said: It is an amazing image. And it is amazing to compare the image - indeed all the images we now have of Mars - with the very first image from the Mariner 4 probe in 1965. The progress in half a century is incredible. Certainly within the next half century there will be selfies taken by the people who have traveled to Mars. I hope I am around to see the start of that! Within that time I'm sure we'll collect these old rovers and bring them home, retire them to the Smithsonian where they can live the rest of their lives in relative comfort. That includes finding and bringing home the Voyager probes as well. Someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 Author #6 Share Posted December 8, 2016 18 minutes ago, Thorvir Hrothgaard said: Within that time I'm sure we'll collect these old rovers and bring them home, retire them to the Smithsonian where they can live the rest of their lives in relative comfort. That includes finding and bringing home the Voyager probes as well. Someday. I agree with that. On the assumption I have grandchildren it would be great if one day they could see, for example, the Viking landers on display in the Smithsonian! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted December 8, 2016 #7 Share Posted December 8, 2016 2 hours ago, Derek Willis said: I agree with that. On the assumption I have grandchildren it would be great if one day they could see, for example, the Viking landers on display in the Smithsonian! I disagree. Leave them on Mars. One day the tourists (maybe including any potential grandchildren you may one day have) will be able to see them there,in situ,as they were intended. On Mars they make a statement that mankind managed to do these amazing things, in a museum they are just another old piece of machinery. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted December 8, 2016 #8 Share Posted December 8, 2016 I agree with Waspie on this, leave them there as a testament to what we overcame to get them there and for what they were able to do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 Author #9 Share Posted December 8, 2016 53 minutes ago, Waspie_Dwarf said: I disagree. Leave them on Mars. One day the tourists (maybe including any potential grandchildren you may one day have) will be able to see them there,in situ,as they were intended. On Mars they make a statement that mankind managed to do these amazing things, in a museum they are just another old piece of machinery. I can see you point of view, but I would still opt for bringing them home. A lot more people would see them in the Smithsonian than on the deserts of Mars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorvir Posted December 8, 2016 #10 Share Posted December 8, 2016 58 minutes ago, Waspie_Dwarf said: I disagree. Leave them on Mars. One day the tourists (maybe including any potential grandchildren you may one day have) will be able to see them there,in situ,as they were intended. On Mars they make a statement that mankind managed to do these amazing things, in a museum they are just another old piece of machinery. It would be similar to what I want then, just build a museum around them. Six one way, half a dozen the other way. Perhaps more people can get to see them here. And the Smithsonian is actually located on Earth for the time being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aftermath Posted December 8, 2016 #11 Share Posted December 8, 2016 4 hours ago, Merc14 said: The CT crowd will find conspiracy no matter what you do so why bother trying to appease them in any way. It's a beautiful picture of a weathered, old, planetary explorer. Looks like the silhouette of a person reflected in the lens of the rover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted December 8, 2016 #12 Share Posted December 8, 2016 5 minutes ago, Aftermath said: Looks like the silhouette of a person reflected in the lens of the rover. Don't give them any ideas. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toast Posted December 8, 2016 #13 Share Posted December 8, 2016 1 hour ago, Aftermath said: Looks like the silhouette of a person reflected in the lens of the rover. Yeah, its Derek Willis, see his avatar. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aftermath Posted December 8, 2016 #14 Share Posted December 8, 2016 7 minutes ago, toast said: Yeah, its Derek Willis, see his avatar. It totally is... that's hilarious! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toast Posted December 8, 2016 #15 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Just now, Aftermath said: It totally is... that's hilarious! It was my first thought when I say Merc`s post ("Ah, Derek, holy &hit!") 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 Author #16 Share Posted December 8, 2016 15 minutes ago, toast said: Yeah, its Derek Willis, see his avatar. Dammit! You found me out!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aftermath Posted December 8, 2016 #17 Share Posted December 8, 2016 1 minute ago, toast said: It was my first thought when I say Merc`s post ("Ah, Derek, holy &hit!") Honestly, I can't stop giggling about it. I keep looking at the lens and seeing Derek Willis... then I think how interesting of a thread this would have been if he had seen that, made that connection, and went with it. Even better if we could have a comment from ImmortalLegend527 too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 Author #18 Share Posted December 8, 2016 2 minutes ago, Aftermath said: Honestly, I can't stop giggling about it. I keep looking at the lens and seeing Derek Willis... then I think how interesting of a thread this would have been if he had seen that, made that connection, and went with it. Even better if we could have a comment from ImmortalLegend527 too. I wish I had spotted that - it is uncanny! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toast Posted December 8, 2016 #19 Share Posted December 8, 2016 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Derek Willis said: Dammit! You found me out!! No worries, I will keep it confidential because friends of Batman are friends of me too. Edited December 8, 2016 by toast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Willis Posted December 8, 2016 Author #20 Share Posted December 8, 2016 8 minutes ago, toast said: It was my first thought when I say Merc`s post ("Ah, Derek, holy &hit!") Toast, I have never given anyone a "like" before - not because I don't like what people say, but because once I start I will never stop. But your discovery deserves one!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now