Mars Hi-Res & Thermal Images Payoff

eldavojohn writes "The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter & Mars Odyssey Orbiter took high resolution images (and shots of each other) earlier this year and after studying them, experts believe that there are too many boulders around the proposed Phoenix Mars Lander landing site. From the article, 'At the end of January 2007, scientists will meet to see if there is an obvious choice for a landing site. If not, they will keep analyzing the data until summer 2007. They are comparing HiRISE's data with that taken by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera on the Mars Odyssey orbiter. Since boulders hold heat better than soil or sand, they show up in THEMIS images taken early in the morning.'"

this is good

[xsalmon]

I would prefer that they exercise careful scrutiny and second-guessing of their decision here. Considering how long it actually takes us to build, launch, and deploy these bots, I'd rather them take their time and get it right, rather than dropping it on the surface and then WTFing when they encounter an "unforseen problem".

It's the Blizzard approach to NASA that is preferable :)

Re:Night shots?

[SilentOneNCW]

I'd generally trust NASA and its scientists on this one.

Re:Night shots?

[camperdave]

I'd guess it's much easier to pick up reflected heat than reflected cold.

At sundown, the entire area will be at about the same temperature, having been heated all day. Picking up reflected infrared sunlight on the warm landscape doesn't leave for a lot of thermal variation. In the morning, however, all of the landscape is cool. Picking up reflected infrared sunlight against a cool background gives you a lot larger thermal contrast.

Re:What would the martians do?

[Viadd]

Well, since we know that Mars-like conditions are required for intelligent life, the most promising region is Chile's Atacama desert. There are places in this optimal region that can go for centuries without being bombarded by corrosive dihydrogen monoxide falling from the sky, as too often happens on other places on that desolate planet.

It is rather hot, but not far beyond what some extremophiles face here on Mars.

The dry valleys of Antarctica are also promising.