Gizmodo: mars phoenix

10 Extreme Cameras for Taking Impossible Shots

John Herrman — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Modern consumer cameras can manage almost anything you throw at them, but sometimes even the swankest DSLR just won't do. In photography, when the conditions get crazy, the cameras get crazier.

Here are ten cameras designed to capture the kinds of images that humans by all means shouldn't be able to see, and that you and I will probably never have the opportunity—or need—to shoot.

At Giz Gallery: Mars In 3D On Our Giant TV

John Mahoney — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:25:27 EST

We just put up some 3D images taken by the Phoenix Mars Lander on our 103-inch plasma, handed out some old school anaglyph glasses, queued up "Life On Mars?" and took a look for ourselves.

You may remember Phoenix's farewell transmission from Mars—thankfully, before it sailed off into the cosmic space robot afterlife, it grabbed some stereo images with its camera, which were converted into 3D and sent over to us by our friends at JPL for use in the gallery.

We're about to close up shop for tonight, but we'll be back tomorrow from 11am-4pm. It's our last day, so come on over! We'll put up the Mars images again if you ask all nice and friendly like.

[Thanks to REED ANNEX and thanks to our benefactor gizmine.com]

Gizmodo Gallery

Reed Annex

151 Orchard Street

New York, NY 10002

Gizmodo Gallery Reader Meetup

The reader meetup takes place across the street from the Gallery, at a place called The Annex (not to be confused with REED ANNEX where the gallery is hosted.) The address is 152 Orchard Street and we'll be there at 9 PM SHARP on Friday December 5th.

Gallery Dates:

December 4th-7th

Times:

12/4 Thursday

12-8

12/5 Friday

12-8

12/6 Saturday

11-8

12/7 Sunday

11-4

[Read more about our Gizmodo Gallery here and see what else we'll be playing with at the event.]

NASA's Next Mars Mission Gets Delayed Until 2011

John Mahoney — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:30:00 EST

Looks like Mars Phoenix (or Mars Phoenix's ghost) will have to wait another two years for a new companion—the Mars Science Laboratory, originally planned for a launch next year, has been delayed until 2011.

It goes to show that the economy's bad in space, too. But aside from budgetary overages, the MSL is one of the most advanced crafts ever to shoot for the red planet. It will be able to redirect its course late into the landing phase, and will actually touch down on a tether lowered from a hovering descent stage. On board will be the biggest science payload every to hit Martian soil, which will study past signs of water in four potential landing sites. [NASA]

30 Mars Phoenix Discoveries NASA Will Never Show the World

matt buchanan — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:30:00 EST

For this week's Photoshop contest, I asked you guys to show us what the Mars Phoenix really discovered that government didn't want us to know about. Well, apparently Mars is a popular destination for politicians, terrorists, Bigfoot and assorted other bizarre life forms. If most of this stuff did exist on Mars, the Men in Black would break down crying because their lives are meaningless and the government would shut down NASA immediately and return the money to taxpayers. Hit the jump for the top three, the Gallery of Champions and... the truth.

First Place — Ross Jeffcoat
Second Place — Andy Sciamanna
Third Place — John Fischetti

Reveal the Mars Phoenix's Classified Discoveries With Photoshop

matt buchanan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

The Mars Phoenix said goodbye last week. It's very sad, like the end of Wall-E. Publicly, the Mars Phoenix was sent to study the planet's water history and whether it could have ever supported life. But we've all seen enough sci-fi movies involving the government to know that there's probably more to it than that, especially if Tommy Lee Jones is involved. So, use Photoshop to show us what the Mars Phoenix really discovered that the government doesn't want us to know about. Here's some Mars Phoenix images to get started.

Create your masterpiece by next Tuesday morning and email it to contests@gizmodo.com. Name your file FirstnameLastname.jpg and save it as a JPG, PNG or GIF. I'll go through the entries and select three winners and put the rest of the best in the Gallery of Champions. Get to it, so we know what we'll be up against in the next War of the Worlds

Mars Phoenix Losing an Arm, Going On Life Support

John Herrman — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:10:55 EDT

We knew this day would come, but who knew it would be so soon? The Mars Phoenix, as planned, is shutting down major systems to offset its diminished solar power collection during the Martian winter. The little robot, which - nay, who — has been making monumental discoveries on the Red Planet for nearly six months is not expected to wake up come Spring. The first significant casualty will be the heater for the Phoenix's robotic arm, which was instrumental in scraping up evidence of water, among other things.

Also according to plan, the Phoenix is diligently Twittering its last days, adding a poignant, cinematic element to the whole ordeal. To the Phoenix, I say we're right there with you, buddy. To NASA, I say STOP PERSONIFYING YOUR ROBOTS, IT ONLY LEADS TO PAIN. Ahem. Below, some of the more plaintive tweets. [NASA via Slashdot and Twitter]

NASA Moving Forward With Its Mars Nuclear Destroyer Lasertank

John Herrman — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:03:09 EDT

Following weeks of doubts about the future of the Mars Science Laboratory, the one-ton, nuclear powered, laser-shooting next generation of the waning Mars Phoenix, Lockheed Martin has shipped the vital "backshell" for the landing module, confirming that building is still under way. They also produced a video detailing the amazing landing procedure for the craft, during which a hovering "skycrane" lowers the rover to the ground before dutifully smashing itself into the surface a safe distance away.

The extensive set of onboard scientific equipment (it's called a laboratory, after all) will allow scientists to more closely analyze soil and rock samples, which can be zapped and disintegrated with the rover's powerful lasers. A note to NASA: fitting your landing craft with terrifying death rays might make your "We Come in Peace" script sound slightly disingenuous. [NASA via The Register]

Phoenix Lander Watches Snow Falling on Mars

John Mahoney — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:50:00 EDT

As the clock continues to tick for brave Phoenix so far away on Mars, the discoveries keep on rolling: this time, that snow falls on Mars. A laser instrument called for pulsing the atmosphere and observing what gets bounced back detected Martian flurries at altitudes of 4km in the clouds. The snow is vaporizing before hitting the ground, but the discovery lends some crucial insight into the Martian water cycle. As did another juicy finding dug up from the soil.

The latest sample from the extended surface digs to hit Phoenix's Easybake detected the presence of calcium carbonate—a mineral found in chalk and clay that tends to only exist in soil after interactions with liquid water. Phoenix has already tasted water ice from its landing point on the North Pole, but the carbonate is an important find for suggesting more watery interactions in the past.

The sun is slowly setting on Phoenix as winter sets in—its solar panels output less juice every day. But before going cold completely, the team hopes to fire up a microphone (the guy has everything) to take a listen for whatever might be out there. [NASA, Mars Phoenix Twitter, image, of course, simulated]

Mars Phoenix Will Bravely and Passionately Twitter Until the Final Beat of Its Adorable Electronic Heart

John Mahoney — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EDT

The Mars Phoenix Lander has been Twittering away its mission details since landing on Mars in May. But lately, you can see a sense of impending doom starting to creep in, slowly: "It's noon, Sol 81. I've spotted frost around my landing site in AM," tweeted Phoenix a few weeks ago. "Seasons are longer here...I'll be surrounded by ice & don't expect to survive til Spring," comes a few days later. But unlike other eerie autobiographical accounts of impending death, the wildly successful Mars Phoenix Lander has a trick up its sleeve for a potential reincarnation after the thaw.

"But as I've said before, I'm programmed with a 'Lazarus mode' so I'll call up to the Mars orbiters if I re-awaken in the Spring," said Phoenix last week, probably in response to tearful return Tweets lamenting his/her/its grim disposition. If its solar panels collect enough juice come springtime, the first auto-function will be to contact the Mars Orbiter above with the good news of its reincarnation.

The folks at NASA are proud to be operating Phoenix at all at this point, having said anything beyond the intended 90-day mission (now officially extended to 120 days after water was officially collected for the first time) is a gift to be savored. That Lazarus Tweet we'll be watching for with open hearts. Show that Winter who's boss, little fella! [Twitter]

Note: In case it was confusing, the tweet image above is something I made. Phoenix is, of course, bravely continuing to scoop and analyze soil samples this very minute, and has more mission time to go before winter sets in. We'll keep you updated.

AWESOME UPDATE: And if my note above wasn't enough, take the Phoenix Lander's own word for it here and here. I now have a new favorite commenter on Giz. Sorry guys, but are there any more of you guys commenting from Mars?

Confirmed: Phoenix Finds Ice on Mars

John Herrman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:30:00 EDT

The Mars Phoenix just issued a highly official twitter update saying that some white, shiny stuff it was staring at has sublimated. In other words, it's definitely ice. The previous discovery of probable ice sent thousands of scientists and NASA fans into violent discovery-gasms, but until the Phoenix team was to observe sublimation, which is when ice skips the liquid state and just evaporates, they couldn't be sure.

Digging earlier today, the Phoenix (which apparently has just 128MB of RAM) knocked loose a few white particles that have since disappeared. So basically, the possibilities are as follows: Sublimation has occurred, there is Martian ice, and our children's children's children will enjoy iced lattes and Sno-Cones just like we do, or an alien just realized that we'd totally uncovered his stash. Either way, this is pretty exciting. Moon landing deniers and gif enthusiasts can check out the (giant) proof below, courtesty of NASA. [Mars Phoenix via Twitter]

Phoenix to NASA: "Houston, We Have a Probstatic"

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:00:00 EDT

Just two days after touchdown, NASA's ~~Phoenix Mars Lander~~ Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is having problems with their UHF radio, which was used more than a hundred times before but now is refusing to work. Without it, you can't give orders to the spacecraft, but don't fret: fortunately they can use the ~~orbiter~~ Odyssey to relay signals, as well as activating the secondary radio unit available on board. NASA said the problem was caused by a "transient event." What does that mean? They don't know for sure, and that means we can pick our own. Update: my bad, I misread. The problem is with the MRO UHF radio, not with Phoenix, which is working just fine.

[Aviation Week]