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Mars Probe Brings the "Weather Rock" New Respect
radioweather writes "What looked to casual observers like a malfunction, a dangling wire with
something on the end, seen in the
first photo of
the meteorological mast on NASA's
Phoenix Mars Lander,
actually
turned out to be the real instrument. Surprisingly, it is much like the
novelty 'weather rock' seen as a novelty gag around the world. The instrument
called the 'Telltale'
is described as a 'passive wind indicator' and uses an extremely lightweight
Kapton tube hanging in Kevlar fiber. Images taken of the instrument will show
the deflection of the Telltale due to the Martian wind."
It picks winner of any sports game, series, etc., everytime, in advance.
Yours for only 5 easy payments of $19.95!
The Sports Bookie Rock.
Get yours now!
My blog
Fascinating. This may be the first time 'angle of dangle' could be used in an actual scientific context.
You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
Simon and Garfunkle fans think.. The answer my friend is blowing in the wind...
Wonder if they included some good old fashioned Dowsing Rods to find water too?
Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
So, of course, they will collect both angle of dangle (azimuth) AND degree of dangle (intensity), both of which vary over time and circumstances. I just don't want to know what they are using for the low-budget ground based simulator. "No Jim, lay back down. Your shift isn't over."
Invenio via vel creo
Martian weather forecasting rock
o Rock has dust on it - there has been a martian sand storm
o Rock is swaying back and forth slighly - a martian sand storm is brewing
o Rock cannot be seen - there is a martian sand storm
o Rock is white - there is frozen water on Mars
o Rock is levitating - There is a UFO with an anti-gravity beam
o Rock is floating - Rock is in orbit around planet
o Rock has gone - UFO has been here and removed rock
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I can't wait for the first manned landing with the first weather report from Mars. "Well it looks kind of windy, hold on, let me take my glove and helmet off so I can lick my finger and hold it up to get a measurement of what direction the wind is blowing...." "POOF!" "ARRRGGGGGG!"
"Mars base, this is Houston, over"
"Mars base, this is Houston, over"
"Damn, I think we lost another weatherman..."
Thank you for bringing us this "Telltale tale."
Invenio via vel creo
well, the rock can tell you if it is raining outside, foggy, and cold...all from the rocks tactile interface...
raining, rock is wet
foggy, hard to see the rock
cold, rock has ice on it...
That's why I read Slashdot, so I can find innovative and workable solutions that were dreamed up after five minutes of consideration, rather than wasting time observing and learning about the decades-long efforts of a bunch of idiot engineers who have no friggin idea how to design, launch, navigate, land, and operate an interplanetary exploration robot.
Evil is the money of root.
No, no, no:
If the rock is missing: Martians
Just like ebay... $1 wind measuring device. $5,000,000 shipping fee.
Fnord.
Ack, I thought you said WINSOCK and was about to disagree strongly.