The Digital Mars Blog

Mars 2020 Video: Mars for the Funny Bone

2006-12-13T21:10:00.000-06:00

I just came across a short but funny video about all those robotic missions that we have been sending to Mars. The title of the video is Mars: 2020: Springtime. The URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjiGH9QNiU0

And yes, there is life on Mars - at least according to the video.

Ad Astra, Jim

Cry Baby Cry for Mars Global Surveyor

2006-11-23T23:20:00.000-06:00

I received a very depressing email from NASA JPL the day before yesterday. It was a press release titled "NASA'S Mars Global Surveyor May be at Mission's End".

For those of us with a keen interest in Mars, the wait for a Mars orbiter mission was an excruciatingly long one. Many years had elapsed since the Viking orbiters had ceased operations, and the failure of the Mars Observer mission only lengthened the wait. We got a taste of the martian surface with the Mars Pathfinder mission.

The arrival of Mars Global Surveyor at Mars was a cause for celebration. Pictures of Mars returned by its cameras blew away the 20 plus year old photographs from the Viking orbiters. These new pictures of the martian surface became the core of numerous presentations I created describing the red planet. They are also the primary source of images for the Mars Art Gallery.

Mars Global Surveyor, which was launched on November 7, 1996, has lasted longer than any other mission to Mars and has returned over 240,000 photographs of the red planet. The last contact from MGS was on November 2. Remarkably, NASA is using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to try and photograph Mars Global Surveyor in order to visually inspect the spacecraft. NASA JPL still has some small hope that communications with MGS can be reestablished.

The press release included a few of Mars Global Surveyor's significant discoveries, which I quote here:

- The spacecraft's camera found gullies cut into many slopes that have few, if any, impact craters. This indicates the gullies are geologically young. Scientists interpret this as evidence of action by liquid water, essentially in modern times.

- The mineral-mapping infrared spectrometer found concentrations of a mineral that often forms under wet conditions, fine-grained hematite. This discovery led to selection of a hematite-rich region as the landing site for NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.

- Laser altimeter measurements have produced an unprecedented global topographic map of Mars. The instrument revealed a multitude of highly eroded or buried craters too subtle for previous observation, and mapped canyons within the polar ice caps.

- The magnetometer found localized remnant magnetic fields, indicating that Mars once had a global magnetic field like Earth's, shielding the surface from deadly cosmic rays.

- The camera found a fan-shaped area of interweaving, curved ridges interpreted as evidence of an ancient river delta resulting from persistent flow of water over an extended period in the planet's ancient past.

- A long life allowed Global Surveyor to track changes through repeated annual cycles. For three Martian summers in a row, deposits of carbon-dioxide ice near Mars' South Pole shrunk from the previous year's size, suggesting a climate change in progress.

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for Mars Global Surveyor.

NASA's Mars Global Surveyor May Be at Mission's End

Ad Astra, Jim

Enter the NSS Space Settlement Art Contest

2006-11-06T12:23:00.000-06:00

The National Space Society is sponsoring an art contest in which artists are to create visions of a spacefaring future - a future of space settlement, be they on the Moon, on Mars, on asteroids, or orbiting independently in space. Twelve winning entries will be chosen to illustrate the NSS 2008 Space Settlement Calendar. Judges include world-renowned space artists David A. Hardy and Pat Rawlings. The deadline for entries is January 31, 2007. Artists may submit multiple pictures to the contest.

The Grand Prize winner will have their artwork featured on the calendar cover and as one of the monthly images. This winner will receive a Beyond-Earth Enterprises 8 ounce Flight Container for sub-orbital rocket launch and return (valued at $1,500.00); a physical copy of Mojoworld 3 Professional 3D software (valued at $480.00); a $250.00 cash prize; a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

There will be four First Prize winners in the categories of Best Lunar Settlement, Best Mars Settlement, Best Asteroid Settlement, and Best Orbiting Settlement. In addition to being published in the calendar, each of the four First Prizes winners will receive a physical copy of Mojoworld 3 Professional 3D software (valued at $480.00); a Beyond-Earth Enterprises Large Photo Kit for sub-orbital rocket launch and return (valued at $74.95); a $100.00 cash prize; a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

The remaining seven winning entries will each appear in the calendar and the artists will each receive an electronic download copy of Mojoworld 3 Professional 3D software (valued at $480.00); a Beyond-Earth Enterprises DNA Flight Kit for sub-orbital rocket launch and return (valued at $34.95); a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

For all the contest details go to http://www.nss.org/settlement/calendar/

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, educational, grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. For US tax purposes, NSS is a tax exempt 501(c)3 educational nonprofit corporation. NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen's voice on space. The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an award-winning periodical chronicling the most important developments in space.

Artsnova Digital Art and Space Blog Launched

2006-10-30T08:06:00.000-06:00

As you look through my entries on the Digital Mars Blog you will see that some of them are unrelated to Mars. In order to keep this blog devoted exclusively to items about Mars, I have launched another Blog that addresses digital art and photography, space art, astronomy, and presentations.

The URL for the Artsnova blog is http://artsnova.com/blog/.

See you there.

Jim

Spirit Celebrates 1000 Sols on Mars

2006-10-26T22:56:00.000-05:00

Today, Oct. 26, 2006, is the 1,000th Sol (a Martian day) that the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has spent on Mars. It's hard to believe that the two rovers Spirit and Opportunity continue to operate, having exceeded their rated lifetime of 90 Sols by a factor of more than 10. As a sort of celebration, JPL has today released a panoramic image of Spirit's current location on a small hill called "Low Ridge".

Referred to as PIA01907: 'McMurdo' Panorama from Spirit's 'Winter Haven', a small portion of which can be seen above, the panorama was created from individual pictures taken by Spirit's panoramic camera, commonly referred to as the Pancam. The most interesting component of this panorama is the field of rocks that appears in the center of the image. While the image is impressive, its true beauty can only be seen in the full resolution version (a 28 meg JPEG).

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Astonishing Picture of Victoria Crater

2006-10-09T11:43:00.000-05:00

Wow! The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) team just released a picture of Victoria Crater taken by the HiRISE camera. The picture can be seen at http://hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/TRA/TRA_000873_1780/

The picture of Victoria crater, seen in Figure A below, is the destination of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.

Figure A. MRO picture of Victoria Crater
(click picture to enlarge)

For purposes of comparison you may want to check out the picture of Victoria Crater that I created from a Mars Global Surveyor MOC Narrow-Angle Camera image at http://www.marsartgallery.com/victoriacrater.html

What makes the MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) picture truely astonishing is that the rover Opportunity can be seen in the picture. Even more astonishing is that the shadow from the PanCam mast can be seen in the full resolution version. The image resolution is 27 centimeters per pixel.

Figure B. Closeup of Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity

(click picture to enlarge)

More about this detailed view of Opportunity is available at http://hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/TRA/TRA_000873_1780/opportunity.html

For more information, the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) home page is at http://hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/ and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter home page is at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/.

Way to go MRO.

Space Videos on the Net

2006-10-01T19:24:00.000-05:00

There is a surprising abundance of space related videos on the web that are hosted by non-NASA web sites. Following is a list of a few of the better ones that I have recently come across.

Video: ISS Assembly Sequence
URL: http://www.tietronix.com/anim/AnimationTop.html
Comments: A nice animation of the full assembly sequence for the International Space Station. Note that to access the video, you've got to do the following:

1) Go to the web page http://www.tietronix.com/anim/AnimationTop.html

2) In the left-side navigation area is a series of small picture icons. Moving your mouse over the image pulls up a larger version in the main area. Clicking on the icon starts the movie.

3) Find the icon for the ISS Assembly Sequence (3rd row, 1st column in the section labeled Space.

4) Click the icon and enjoy.

There are also several other animations available, including Orbiter Reentry Maneuver and Crew Return Vehicle animation.

Video: The Best of Hubble... Part l
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJW1hof_4_I
Comments: Nice background music for a film that pans various Hubble
Space Telescope images. Not very exciting.

Video: Yuri Gagarin Flight video
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2C1FkPz5vU&NR
Comments: Great video overview of the pioneering flight of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, with a lively soundtrack as well.

Video: Man on the Moon
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QX3mE6N-2c&mode=related&search=
Comments: Opening with Kennedy's famous speech "we choose to go to the
Moon", this is a video review of the Apollo 11 mission. Nice song as a soundtrack 6.5 minutes long

Video: Lift Off Soyuz Baykonur
URL:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7635123402210104777&q=gagarin
Comments: At almost 8 minutes, this video could have been shortened to about 4 minutes. It features the launch of a Soyuz to the International Space Station. Most interesting prelaunch are the views of the launch pad. Most interesting postlaunch are the views of the interior of the Soyuz spacecraft.

Meanwhile back at NASA, there is a great video from the Solid Rocket Booster Camera of the SRB's descent back to the surface, complete with sound. I'd give it two-thumbs up.

The video can be found on the "Index to NASA Podcasts" web page at

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/index.html

There is also a nice video of the STS-115 ISS Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver

Enjoy the shows.

Jim, http://www.marsartgallery.com

Timekeepers of the Universe

2006-09-28T20:32:00.000-05:00

I was visiting Graphics.com a some days ago where I have a Photoshop gallery of a few of my Mars images. For some reason I happened to check out the challenge they had going on. The challenge was to use some photo objects of old pocket watches and hour glasses to create a new image. For some reason it popped into my head to turn the watch faces into planets and a star.

You are welcome to take a look at my entry Timekeepers of the Universe and let me know what you think. Once there, you can click on the image to open a larger version.

Happy Surfing, Jim
http://www.marsartgallery.com

Spiders of Mars Illustration

2006-08-24T21:12:00.000-05:00

A new theory has been proposed to explain the strange spider-like dark spots that are seen in circumpolar regions of Mars during local spring.

The theory to explain the creation of these dark spots is described in the Arizona State University press release Gas jets spawn dark ‘spiders’ and spots on Mars icecap.

A great illustration of the effect done by astronomical artist and IAAA member Ron Miller can be seen at http://themis.asu.edu/news-polarjets.

Mars, Jupiter: What's the Difference

2006-07-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

On CNN's Situation Room report of June 23, 2006, to illustrate a story about humans to Mars, which included a brief interview clip with Robert Zubrin of the Mars Society, CNN used an image of Jupiter. And not just once either.

Earlier this year I did a presentation to a group of third graders about the solar system. Even they knew the difference between Mars and Jupiter.

Save the Internet

2006-06-22T22:03:00.000-05:00

Web creator Tim Berners-Lee has posted on his blog an interesting article about the current debate over net neutrality (see http://www.freepress.net/news/16193

After some additional reading on the subject my guess is that it is probably in the consumer's best interest to support the concept of net neutrality.

For more information visit the Save the Internet web site.

They also have a petition that you can sign.

Jim.

CBS News Shows Chinese Landing on Wrong Moon

2006-06-22T08:25:00.000-05:00

Well it looks like CBS News has done it again. First it was exploding trucks. Then it was faked documents. Now the CBS News web site has Chinese astronauts landing on Saturn's moon Dione.

Here is a link to the story in question:
China Plans To Land On Moon By 2024

So while the article is actually about a planned manned Chinese mission to the Earth's Moon, the illustration used is an image of the Saturn moon Dione.

Windycon Science Fiction Convention Day 1

2005-11-12T07:48:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the first day of the Windycon Science Fiction Convention and a chance to see some old friends again. My friend Dave Angus, world builder extraordinaire, is in visiting from the United Kingdom and together we made the journey to Windycon.

I was a panelist on By the Light of the Soviet Moon which explored the question of what would the Solar System look like today if the Soviet space program had continued with its string of successes. Of course from my perspective the one success that really counted was the race to the Moon. If they had managed to win that, things may have progressed differently.

I later attended the opening ceremonies which had some highs, some lows, and some humor. The definite low was when actress Erin Gray of Buck Rogers fame got up and basically made a speech that was an endorsement of psychics. Okay. Meanwhile back on planet Earth...

I am off shortly for the second day. I am especially looking forward to my panel From Vulcan to Xena which will discuss the latest solar system discoveries. My friend Dave Angus will be on this panel with me as will my friend Diana Challis who currently serves as Program Manager for the Lake Afton Observatory at Wichita State University. Rounding out our panel will be author, Vatican astronomer and meteorite curator Brother Guy Consolmagno. I have had the good fortune to be a co-panelist with Brother Guy several times in the past and look forward to having yet another opportunity to learn from him.

Jim

Caller on WGN Radio Program The Cultural Significance Of Mars

2005-11-03T23:40:00.000-06:00

This evening on WGN radio, the topic of discussion was the cultural significance of Mars. I was fortunate enough to get through and have the opportunity to get some air time. My first comment was to clarify an earlier caller's question about bacteria being found on some camera returned from the Moon. It was actually a Surveyor camera lens that was returned to Earth by the Apollo 12 astronauts. Some bacteria was found in the lens. The unanswered question is did this bacteria really make the trip to the Moon and back or was the lens contaminated with bacteria while it was being handled here on Earth.

My two questions for the panelists (Doug Roberts and Robert Markely) were based on my work with image data returned by the Mars Global Surveyor. I was specifically interested in whether they felt that various mission images of Mars had artistic merit. Both panelists responded positively about the natural beauty of many of these images. According to Doug, the folks at the Adler Planetarium last year picked one of the Mars Exploration Rover images as the best ever picture of Mars. He said it was a picture of sand ripples in the bottom of one of the Martian craters. I can't be sure but he might be talking about the same image that I found so striking and published on my web site (see Sands of Mars)

My closing question was to ask their opinion of the many more fanciful interpretations of Mars images that are to be found on the net. I think that their response can be summed up as people will see what they want to see. This turned out to be a perfect lead in for the next caller's question which had to do with a coworker who believed that the whole Apollo program was faked and that we never went to the Moon.

Jim

Behold Mars 2006 Calendar Available

2005-10-29T15:54:00.000-05:00

Hello,

I have just finished creating a calendar for 2006. The calendar is titled Behold Mars and each month features a different image of Mars from either the Viking Orbiter, Mars Global Surveyor, or Mars Exploration Rover missions to Mars.

You can view the calendar at the following link:

Behold Mars 2006 Calendar

This is my first excursion into POD (Print On Demand) and I am very curious to see how it turns out. The site selling the calendar is Lulu (www.lulu.com) and was recommended by a friend.

I have also made a couple of the images used in the calendar available as well.

Jim

Gallery Space on Graphics.com Approved

2005-10-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

Mars Work At Graphics.com Photoshop Gallery
Over the weekend I sent an e-mail to graphics.com requesting gallery space in their Photoshop gallery and provided them with examples of my work.

The other day I got an e-mail back from them telling me that my request was accepted and that my space was ready to go. I quickly added a few images to the gallery just to get things rolling.

If you like you can visit my gallery at graphics.com to see what I have on display there.

Jim

Magnetic Mars

2005-10-27T14:39:00.000-05:00

Mars just gets more Earth-like every day. It was a big deal when Mars Global Surveyor found evidence that Mars once had a magnetic field. Now it seems that Mars once had plate tectonics. As I recall it was previously held that Mars never had plate tectonics and that Vallis Marineris represented a failed beginning of the same.

For more information, see the article
New map provides more evidence Mars once like Earth.

Jim

NAPP Gallery Editor Picks "Martian Gullied Crater" As An "Editors Choice"

2005-10-26T16:08:00.000-05:00

I was surfing the web Saturday October 15 and decided to see what was up at the NAPP Member Portfolio web site. As a member benefit, NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals) has created a Member Portfolios web site where members can post a small sampling of their work. I was surprised and pleased to see that my image "Martian Gullied Crater" had been selected as an Editors Choice (see image above).

A slightly larger version of the image can be seen below.

You can view my NAPP portfolio but it is composed only of small images that are a subset of those on display at the Mars Art Gallery.

You should also note that NAPP has been having troubles with its gallery software. Clicking on a thumbnail may or may not bring up the full size image. Given that this is a problem dating back to early 2005, I would not bet on it being fixed anytime soon.

For detailed information about the picture and to access a wallpaper version see Martian Gullied Crater.

Jim

Behold Mars Presented to Friendship Village Men's Club

2005-10-26T10:38:00.000-05:00

Friday October 21 I had the opportunity to address a meeting of the Men's Club at Friendship Village. Friendship Village is an assisted living and retirement community in Schaumburg IL.

The title of my presentation was "Behold Mars" and I spoke for almost an hour, followed by a question and answer session. I began the presentation with a little historical background about the observational history of Mars. This was followed by a brief overview of the image processing techniques that I used to create the images that they were going to be seeing. The rest of the talk was showing the audience numerous pictures of Mars that focused on the geological diversity of our red neighbor.

This was I think the fourth time that I had been invited to speak at Friendship Village. As I recall my other presentations covered the subjects of the Hubble Space Telescope, President Bush's New Vision for Space Exploration, and another Mars talk.

I must say that I always enjoy speaking to this group and I look forward to their next invitation to speak.

Jim

Welcome to the Digital Mars Blog

2005-10-26T10:23:00.000-05:00

Hello and Welcome,

I decided to create this blog as an experiment for sharing news and views about images of the planet Mars. I began doing my own processing of Mars image data a number of years ago in order to create my own visuals for presentations about space exploration in general and Mars in particular.

Mission data that I have worked with includes:

Mariner 9
Viking Orbiters and Landers
Mars Pathfinder
Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Exploration Rovers
Mars Odyssey

Most of the work that I have done has been focused on the Viking orbiter and Mars Global Surveyor images. I have also done some work creating 3D renderings using Mars Global Surveyor's Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter data.

Several of the images that I have created are on display at my web site The Mars Art Gallery.

So welcome to my blog and I hope that you enjoy your visit.

Jim.