Mars Arctic in 3D from Phoenix
Written by Nancy Atkinson
OK, everyone: get out your funky 3-D glasses for a whole new look at Mars! We've seen the smooth plains of Meridiani from Opportunity in 3-D; we've gazed upon the rocky terrain of Gusev Crater from Spirit in more than two dimensions. But now it's time to feast your eyes on Mars' arctic tundra as its never been seen before: in super frozen 3-D from the Phoenix lander! The image above shows a color, stereoscopic 3D view of the Martian surface near the lander, and is one of Phoenix's workplaces called "Wonderland." But wait! There's more…..
This 3-D view is from an image acquired by Phoenix's Surface Stereo Imager on Sol 33, the 33rd Martian day of the mission (June 28, 2008). Phoenix's solar panel is seen in the bottom right corner of the image.
Here's a close up view of where all the action has been taking place recently: the trench called "Snow White." The hole to the left of the trench, seen in the upper left of the image, is informally called "Burned Alive. This image was taken on Sol 22, but recently, Phoenix has scooped and rasped the area in an effort to get "shaved ice" samples.
Here's a great touchy-feely 3-D image (don't you just want to reach out and touch that rock?) The largest rock seen in this image is called "Midgard." The edge of Phoenix's deck is seen in the bottom right corner of the image.
There's lots more 3-D loveliness at the Phoenix Image Gallery. Have fun!
July 24th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Well put Sammy!
As for the other post about red/green vs. red/cyan? The "difference" is that the first image is in color. The others are B&W, so the cyan truly looks cyan. Since they color image has additional yellow components to it, the cyan looks green (look at a color wheel). All the images look fine with my cardboard glasses.
Also, only conspiracy theorists think that NASA is covering up evidence of the "little green men." The images are sent back in discontinuous (often discontiguous) chunks, then they have to be stitched together, which might not be seamlessly possible.
Geez people! Would you at least give these things a *little* technical thinking, beyond the surface level, before you rant & rave and criticize the people who present this stuff… people who are smarter than you?
July 24th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
P.S. — If NASA released side-by-side images, then people would really complain. Also, have you ever tried side-by-side with images so big? It's near impossible unless you back way up (and even then, headache central!). Really it's only feasible for small images.
I'm sure if you go to NASA's website on this project you can download the separate right/left images.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Just get a pair of red/green glasses.
Here are three sources:
1. Buy a 3D movie, such as Spy Kids. The glasses (4 pair) come in the DVD box.
2. Go to the grocery store and get red and green cellophane. They sell it in on the same aisle as the plastic bags. Stretch it over some cheap sunglass frames.
3. Go here: http://www.3dglassesonline.com/how-do-3d-glasses-work/ All they cost is postage.
Now quityerbitchin.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
One more source for glasses…
Purchase Hexstatic - MasterView and enjoy the benefis of getting Red-Blue glasses (still work on these images just fine) and a great CD+DVD of music by Hexstatic!
July 25th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Thank you ppl for posting this once again wonderful 3D view of Mars.
Having said that, a couple of postings were dealing with the fact ( < fact ) that the resolutions of the publicly avaliable photos are of a somewhat low(er) resolution & quality then the ones that are internally avaliable.
I do not find it odd, because I think I know some of the scientific/commercial based reasons to do that, but the US tax payer should be treated with a little more respect then an 'Highrez' Atari ST 640×400 B/W monitor resolution.
Other then then that, just once again; tnx A LOT !
Regards,
Aryan - an EU taxpayer.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:46 am
you can't create polarized images on flatscreens.
only on crt's with expensive glasses.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:42 am
maybe if they would pull that rock off they'll be led to j'onn j'onnz martian lair lol