3/15/2005: Beauty of Mars

What would you think this is if I didn't give a hint of it in the Subject?

What it really is, is much more phenomenal. These are vertical cliffs on Mars, today's Astronomy pic of the Day. But what's really amazing is the size; there's nothing to offer perspective here, but these cliffs may be as high as 2 kilometers high!

The Apod says that there is a canyon that's almost twice that deep on Earth, Colca Canyon in Peru. (Which hasn't made the field of 64, World Landmarks - maybe because it's hard to get to see?)

It really is beautiful. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.

Sandra

Sorry, I thought you meant something like this:

North or South Martian polar cap?

i like Mars, i like astronomy.great picture.thanks for sharing it.Under

North

Looks like sand but I guess it can't be with cliffs like that.
Anyway, it doesn't look like a nice place to live.

It looks like the creamy nugat of my Mars bar.
Delicious planet.

Great, Venetians (with attorneys) gobbling up Mars.

I bet BASE jumpers would love those cliffs,
just remember to bring along some bigger parachutes on your journey to mars.

Is the gravity greater or lesser?

gravity is slightly less, but air pressure is 99% less.

Your parachute would have to be huge!! in testing the parachute for the martian probes, the chute that was designed to deploy at supersonic speeds (think of the wall of air at mach 1) could be simulated at earth's sea level air pressure of merely 80 mph.

So a supersonic free fall on Mars feels as windy as 80 mph earth winds. very windy for sure, but how big must my chute be to make a big enough drag to slow me down to walk-away-from-impact speed?!

Hmm, I guess they can forget the chutes and bring along some retrorockets instead.

Mars will always be a mystery. By the way have you noitce the face on mars has disapeared?

It was never there.

I thought he just got bored and went to check out Saturn, which at least has the rings to look at.

I could find some funny "faces" in the trees if you like...

Jimmy Hoffa???

I think it's Dr. Mengele.

I think it's Dr Zaeus.

Now that you mention it, I think it looks more like Zira.

I was thinking Imhotep's sand-face. Too literal?