Mars S. Pole photos

[MEKer]

You know, its bothered me for several years that after the original Mars Orbiter took a ton of pictures of Mars, we were sending better, more maneuverable vehicles to Mars (the Rovers), but always to the north. NEVER to the south pole area where the Mars Orbiter Camera also took a lot of pictures that show some incredible things that bear definite investigation. Why not???? What in the world would a Rover had found if it rolled right up to what you see on this website (there are others, including official NASA site).

A forest on Mars

"It's the case of a photo taken by MOC (Mars Orbiter Camera), a satellite for photographical mapping of Mars that, at latitude -82.02°, longitude 284.38° (near to the Martian south pole) has filmed something totally incredible, but still neglected: it's some form of vegetation on Mars.
The photo number is M08-04688."

The structures seen in the Mars photos are referred to as trees only because of comparative morphology. Gotta refer to them as something and "trees" is as good as any other name for now.

Fascinating---wish we'd take a good close look with a Rover. Might be more fascinating than we can imagine.

[Munjibunga]

Dendritic patterns are among the most common in nature. I'd be interested in a knowledgeable person's assessment of the patterns, rather than that of Mirko Elviro. There is no evidence of vegetation on Mars.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

LOL.

What Munji said.

If You watch pretty much anything inpure solidify naturally, that's the result You'll get.

One can cheat, obviously, otherwise most of the modern marwels wouldn't be possible. Any and all of those "cheats" can also happen naturally.

Perhaps the people, who have analyzed the pics and didn't see what ever mundanes sees in them to be important enough to warrant an expedition, have had enough lab experience to see 'em for what those shapes are.

When us couch potatoes try to do science, it may well be fun and tabloid material, but it rarely delivers.

Regards
Sam

[Relic]

Neat but yeah, no forests over there full of bright orange winged space monkeys

[MEKer]

"Forest" is only a comparative term used. Regardless of the guy putting them up, the sizes involved and varying shapes and distribution make them unique on Mars as far as we know and I don't think they should be dismissed as just a 2D "shape". North is giving us nothing each time---but South there is Something. We oughta check out this Something. Its too unusual not to if we are, in fact, trying to find something.

[Relic]

Well, I'm not saying that we shouldn't take a closer look, I absolutely agree with you 100% there. That would be awesome.
BTW- I didn't mean to come across in a mocking tone or anything, I've just seen some folks (not necessarily here) make some really outlandish claims over the past few years and it sometimes drives me nuts
here, check out this thread that I had started a couple weeks ago. I'm still wondering what this was all about (ie hoax or natural object??):
Object on Mars..? Is this for real, or a load of bull?

[Rickengeezer]

I think they did send a Rover to the South, but at last report it's up on blocks in someone's front yard.

[N.F.A.]

Maybe they don't want to invade John Carter's privacy. (You know the classic book series?) Or maybe the movie, "Angry Red Planet" had it right and the vegetation there is carnivorous.

[john turner]

check this pic out :

Where In The Universe #86

apparently the evaporating co2 ice causes these patterns that look like tumbleweeds. very cool.

i love how folks automatically assume that nasa is keeping information about having found life on mars hidden. because, as we all know, it wouldb e nasa's best interest to keep such information hidden - discovering actual life on mars would do -nothing- to help their budget requests - the public would not even begin to care./sarcasm

[MEKer]

Yeah, nice photo on Where in the Universe #86. I notice they claim the lines resembling reeds are just lines that are are streaks. Of course, streaks do not continue up and project off the thing they are on, and you can see the lower ground beyond, between their tops. Look like natural structures of some sort--not streaks on the ground as they obviously project above it. Don't know what they could be, but would be interesting to know since NASA claims they are looking for things other than dirt and rocks.

[DwaynieAD]

looked like some form of "crystalization" rather than "trees" to me

[boing]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Of course, streaks do not continue up and project off the thing they are on, and you can see the lower ground beyond, between their tops.

Of course, planetary orbiters tend to look down when taking pictures. They're not looking out the window of a Cessna here. The tops you think you're seeing are the bottoms.

Here's an object lesson on seeing what's there, not what you want to be there:

APOD: 2007 July 17 - The Same Color Illusion

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

looked like some form of "crystalization" rather than "trees" to me

have they ruled out a contamination on the lens?
it honestly looks like bacteria colonies at high magnification.



just sayin.

[MEKer]

Originally Posted by boing

Of course, planetary orbiters tend to look down when taking pictures. They're not looking out the window of a Cessna here. The tops you think you're seeing are the bottoms.

Here's an object lesson on seeing what's there, not what you want to be there:

APOD: 2007 July 17 - The Same Color Illusion

illusions are great but you can see the topo relief from the angle of the photo. Still don't buy the streak theory.
Either way, that stuff and the "tree shaped" stuff should be looked at as its worth looking at more than the usual nothing that the Rovers have checked out. What it is---anyone's guess. Wish we'd find out.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

When us couch potatoes try to do science, it may well be fun and tabloid material, but it rarely delivers.

Great sig material there, I'm using it. It's a fascinating subject, and I think it'd be cool as hell if we found something substantial on Mars. It just hasn't happened yet.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Still don't buy the streak theory.

i'm with you there