Posted by Davin Flateau on 24 Mar 2006 at 12:34 pm.
Filed under Astronomy.
Being a big hub for observational astronomy, this can probably be said for most nights in Tuscon, Arizona: there are a lot of tired astronomers down there today. Mars’ newest artificial satellite, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, sent back its first images from its high powered camera last night and early this morning. Engineers and planetary scientists at the University of Arizona were all smiles, as you can probably guess from the pictures above. These images are really just to test the camera and get it calibrated. Spectacular!
The thing you have to remember about these images is: You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.
The top image is a reduced scale of 10 different shots. The mosaic is presented at a much smaller scale than what they’re getting at NASA. The full resolution of an image like this will be 20,000 x 9500 pixels!
The box in the lower right of the image is the second image, and is a section they released at the full resolution of the camera. The detail in these images is simply incredible.
Here’s the kicker: these images were taken at an altitude of 1,547 miles, with a pixel covering about 98 inches of Mars surface. When MRO starts its main mission this fall, its altitude will be just 174 miles above the red planet, with each pixel covering just 11 inches of the surface. We’ll be able to see the Mars Rovers with no problem, as well as the Viking landers, the crashed polar lander, and that’s just the hardware we dropped off. These powerful new eyes will be the catalyst for a whole new generation of discoveries on Mars.
One of the first things they’re going to image is the landing site for the next Mars lander - Mars Phoenix, going up in 2007.
A fair warning to any undiscovered Martians out there - you are being watched!
Andrew Shaner on 24 Mar 2006 at 5:54 pm: 1
U of A!! U of A!! We own Mars!!!
Andrew Shaner on 24 Mar 2006 at 5:56 pm: 2
Seriously though. These first images are just the beginning. The excitement down here in Tucson can be felt everywhere. Mars only knows what discoveries lay ahead.
Davin Flateau on 24 Mar 2006 at 5:56 pm: 3
Go Shockers!!!