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People Seeing Life on Mars
Ward C. Diehl writes "Tech Central Station has an article detailing the latest round of Martian visions, over 100 years after Percival Lowell's canal 'sightings'. The article interviews astrobiologists, including Nobel laureate Richard Roberts, and one astronomer from the fringe. The latest photos from Mars Express, Opportunity, and Spirit are interpreted as sea shells, pyramids, Nasca-like lines, etc. and one truly freak-deaky crab claw. There's a great link list at the end of the article so we have a gallery these photos. Prepare to blow your Friday afternoon productivity!"
I find the lack of interest that NASA has shown for the "claw" as the article puts it, to be very interesting. I'm relatively convinced that it must be a piece of the airbag or possibly debris that was ejected when the pyros were fired to release the rover.
What I don't understand is why NASA hasn't released another image from a different angle. Aren't they at all interested in what part of the lander/rover it is? If they intend to use the airbag method for landing probes on Mars in the future why don't they want to know what parts are falling off of the spacecraft they are sending?
I'm certainly not suggesting that there is a conspiracy, that NASA is deliberately covering up evidence of past or present life on Mars. I have nothing but the greatest respect for the men and women who are working on these projects. I also understand that they have better things to do than react to crackpots who are crying cover-up because NASA won't try to get a better snapshot of the "face" for the third time. But I am not happy when they fail to even remark upon an object that is obviously there and obviously odd looking.
It is possible that they are using the buzz being generated by this object to attract attention to the program. I certainly hope that's not the case, as NASA does not need that kind of attention.
order can be occasionally found in chaos. but it's still chaos. let the scientists do their thing, and I'm *sure* they will let you know when they're definitely found something.
...but a few million years ago? Yeah, very possible. The only problem is that photos of the surface aren't going to turn up much. We need to dig on the surface, and dig deep. But even if we don't find the remains of life, who knows what else we might find? Perhaps we shouldn't be so focused on finding life and be looking to see what we can find.
I dream of a better world... one in which chickens can cross roads without their motives being questioned.