First Pictures From Mars Phoenix Lander

Now that the solar panels have been deployed, the Mars Phoenix Lander has begun sending back pictures of the red planet to the hungry space geeks of earth. In just a few weeks the claw will deploy and they'll start digging a hole. The scientists expect to use the dirt to construct a little sand castle which they will defend with several GI Joe action figures, and a bald barbie stolen from their sisters. Oh, and maybe find water or bacteria.

Comments

Where on the planet did it land?

[Cthefuture]

Is there a picture or something that shows roughly where it landed on the planet? I spent some time on their web site but couldn't find anything.

Interesting Object?

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone know what the object in the back right field is? Sticks out..

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/phoenix/collection_16/SS000EFF896228773_10CA8R8M1_8877.jpg

Re:Awesome

[turgid]

I'm sure my father said exactly the same thing when the Viking craft landed back in the 1970s.

It would be great if space exploration went at a faster pace, but as long as there are wars to be fought, don't hold your breath.

Re:Colour?

[Hijacked Public]

Many of the photos taken during the early Apollo missions were shot with hand held Hasselblad cameras. On the first moon landing Armstrong took a fairly well known shot of Aldrin on the surface. As far as I know all our manned missions since have had Hasselblad on board.

These are more pleasing to the eye than what is being transmitted from the Phoenix lance but a little less scientifically useful. They are also limited to missions that will return, since the film has to be developed.

A good portion of the gear used now shoots photos in stereo so objects can be more accurately scaled and located. And B&W only sensors can be made more accurate in that regard than color (a quick look at any decent graphic explanation of one will illustrate why). As previous posts have noted, filters can be used to determine color.