Someone has to get out more often... -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Wiggins [mailto:paw@trilobyte.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:47 PM To: utah astronomy listserve Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Found in Martian soil (what is it?) Ann House emailed me a picture she had been sent as a joke, seeming to show a "bug" on Mars. I chuckled, thinking it was like the PhotoShopped pictures seen here that show Wal Mart and McDonald's signs on Mars. But then, just for the heck of it, I had a look at the original image on the NASA/JPL web site. It was there too. Here are small (300 kB) http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040202a/MSPan_B1_ 2x-B009R1_br2.jpg and large (9 MB) http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040202a/MSPan_B1_ 2x-B009R1.jpg versions of the picture in question. The "bug" is located about 2/3 of the way across (left to right) and not quite half way up the image. I've put a close up of the object (supplied by Ann) here http://planet.state.ut.us/temp/WHATISIT.JPG Ideas? Something that came from the lander? Note, BTW, that the "bug's antennae" are above the surface and cast shadows. Patrick _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com