A probably crazy question

[supernova1965]

This recent story about the strange "rock" appearing on mars I was looking at the image and the marking on the surface at the same place as where the "rock" appeared seemed to me the same size and shape as the rock. Could it be fungie or something else alive that was under the ground and emerged? I said it was a crazy question but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

[traveller]

Hi Warren,
There are a number of possibilities:
1. It has been there all along and was flipped over by one of the rover's wheels, exposing its underside.
2. Ejecta from meteorite.
3. A crystalline growth of some sort.
4. A fugal growth as you suggested.
5. A discarded scrunched up foil some Martian left behind after eating their meal while checking out the rover.... :screwy:
1 and 2 more likely though.
Bo

[Regulus]

Or it is a part of the rover that fell off. Hub cap? :-)

[Baddad]

I like 5:):lol:

[blink138]

gorra admit.............. that's a strange one!
pat

[MortonH]

Looks like a disposable nappy.

[Astro_Bot]

It's a piece of roofing insulation that fell off ...... from the huge hangar in which NASA is faking the exploration of Mars. :screwy: :P

[OICURMT]

http://news.discovery.com/space/mystery-rock-appears-in-front-of-mars-rover-140117.htm

[ZeroID]

You have to discount #1 as the rover has not moved in over a month nd the object was not there in the photo taken 12 days prior. :shrug:
It is not #4, a fungal growth as it has a high metallic and mineral count according to their first analysis. Although I wouldn't rule it out completely, life can take some unusual forms and who are we to say what is or isn't. In that case I could include crystalline growth, #3 as a possibility. Crystalline life ?? :question:
#2, Meteorite debris ? Have they checked around for other evidence ?
#5, I'd expect to see a little green man's footprints somewhere and maybe a Macca's sign on the horizon. Have they checked ? :question: :D

I can see why they are having big 'fights' and discussions back at the ESA and NASA offices. It's almost as good as finding ET. :P

[DavidNg]

I just wonder, why did Rover traveled almost the same path after 12 days? wouldn't they take all the opportunity available to explore widest areas for such a short life span of the robot?

[raymo]

Love the fun, but in all seriousness the 2 vertical white stripes which
are obvious and clear when the image is magnified 300x suggest
strongly to me that the object is manufactured, not natural. Being as there are winds on Mars, maybe the object is detritus from another mission and got blown there by the wind.
raymo

[traveller]

True, but many crystals have symmetrical structures. It is also possible it's a weathered sedimentary rock, given Mars' water presence in the past and its active volcanoes. So the question is not if it is manufactured, but by whom or what?
Cheers,
Bo

[barx1963]

The rover (BTW this is Opportunity not the more recent Curiosity rover) is 10 years old so has far exceeded its expected 3 month lifespan, as such they are veeeery careful not to move it more than necessary. While its roving program is ambitious, it is designed to maximise science results rather than cover territory.
Also given the time lag between Mars and Earth (I belive it can take up to 20 minutes for a command to be sent to the rover and back again, roving is a slow process. The longest single day drive I believe is about 220 metres.

Cheers

Malcolm

[FlashDrive]

:lol: ...yeah that's it ....I'll go along with that.....:D

Col......

[Jen]

Lol @ Bo I like the number 5 theory much better it sounds much more realistic to happen on mars doesn't it hehehe :P :rolleyes:

[Harb]

Pigeon droppings......someone left the door open to long

[traveller]

Just in case people missed this, a man is suing NASA as he claims the rock is Martian "lifeform" :screwy:
http://www.iflscience.com/space/man-sues-nasa-failing-investigate-%E2%80%9Calien-life%E2%80%9D-mars
All I can say is "Only in America"!
Bo

[Ric]

That's a classic. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: