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Martian Moon Phobos in Detail

Posted by michael on from the ph3ar dept.

neutron_p writes "Today we can see the highest-resolution pictures so far of the Martian moon Phobos. These images show new detail that will keep planetary scientists busy for years, working to unravel the mysteries of this moon. The images show the Mars-facing side of the moon, taken by Mars Express from a distance of less than 200 kilometres with a resolution of about seven metres per pixel."

21 comments

  1. So what? by El · · Score: 2, Funny

    The images show the Mars-facing side of the moon, taken from a distance of less than 200 kilometres with a resolution of about seven metres per pixel during orbit 756. That's still not enough resolution to see if anybody is standing there waving as the probe goes by...

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

    1. Re:So what? by BLuP1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You're supposing that "anybody" is smaller than, say, 35mx35m... Phobos has pretty low gravity, a creature of that size wouldn't be too structurally difficult.

    2. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It would be more apropos if they were mooning the probe instead of waving.

  2. Phobos? by krymsin01 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    One question, Where's Doom Guy?

    --
    stuff
  3. Still not enough detail ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    I can't see the Space Marine's base.

    Dammit, how am I supposed to visit the "Holy Ground" site of Doom 1 if the cameras can't pinpoint it?

    1. Re:Still not enough detail ... by XO · · Score: 2, Funny

      Someone get a good zoom in on that so we can get a good look at the infamous Leather Goddesses of Phobos. Please? :)

      --
      "Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
  4. Mo betta' pictures... by Muad'Dave · · Score: 4, Informative
    here.

    --
    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  5. Is it just me... by coolmadsi · · Score: 0

    Is it just me or does the first picture shown on the first link look as though it was creating in some Graphics program?

    Looks kinds plastically.

    1. Re:Is it just me... by pjay_dml · · Score: 1

      nope, I had exactly the same impression. It just looks tooooo smooth....

    2. Re:Is it just me... by KnightStalker · · Score: 1

      That's no moon.

      (I have a bad feeling about this.)

      --
      * And remember, it's spelled N-e-t-s-c-a-p-e, but it's pronounced "Mozilla."
    3. Re:Is it just me... by Darth_brooks · · Score: 1

      The images show the Mars-facing side of the moon, taken from a distance of less than 200 kilometres with a resolution of about seven metres per pixel during orbit 756.

      that sentence should explain everything to you.

      --
      There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
    4. Re:Is it just me... by coolmadsi · · Score: 0

      Yea, I read that and thought it would be really pixelated, the image itself is actually pretty good quality if it is 7M per pixel. That and from 200KM away im surprised that it didnt get really blurry.

  6. I think... by Trikenstein · · Score: 4, Funny

    we should carve it to look like Benders head.
    Really give the greys something to wonder about.

  7. Rats! We'll never dodge Deep Impact now. by CodeWanker · · Score: 2, Funny

    This tiny moon is thought to be in a 'death spiral', slowly orbiting toward the surface of Mars. Here, Phobos was found to be about five kilometres ahead of its predicted orbital position. This could be an indication of an increased orbital speed associated with its secular acceleration, causing the moon to spiral in toward Mars.

    Eventually Phobos could be torn apart by Martian gravity and become a short-lived ring around Mars, or even impact on the surface. This orbit will be studied in more detail over the lifetime of the Mars Express.

    Well, crap. All my hopes pinned on a Mars colony letting the human race survive an asteroid impact and it's already got a a gun at its head and a bullet zipping down the barrel. Geologically speaking, of course.

    --


    "Wow. Now THAT'S a lot of angry Indians." - Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer
  8. Get Celestia by Clueless+Moron · · Score: 1
    here.

    Then you too go to Phobos and marvel how loomingly big Mars is above you. Or bekow you, depending on how you feel.

    A truly awesome Universe simulator.

  9. Re: Your sig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are there any other Pro-Life atheists out there? Hello? Anyone?

    I'm a pro-life agnostic. Is that close enough?

  10. Your sig 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm a pro-life agnostic. Is that close enough?

    I'm another one that is here, despite the media wanting to portray everyone who is pro-life as religious nutjobs, I would suspect many reasonable people who are not religious are pro-life as well. To me it's an issue of morals "It's wrong to kill an innocent person/child" and also an issue of demography, it doesn't make much sense to kill your own children as Europe will be finding out soon....

  11. Even better... by titusjan · · Score: 1

    here