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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 01/14/2007 :  07:51:42  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message

"Believing is seeing," scoffs scientist

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, January 14, 2007 (SN) -- The scientists here at JPL jokingly refer to it as "Glendale-Under-the-Sands," or "Crater-Burb." And, at first glance, that's what it looks like to some people. "It" is a formation at the bottom of Mozina Crater, a small Martian feature which was recently imaged by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.


Overview of the crater and the odd formation.

Dr. Martin Killjoy, Director of Imaging Explanations at JPL, explains:

"Remember the 'Face on Mars'? Lots of lay people thought that looked like a human face. Some even tried to connect it with the ancient Egyptians, or the mythical Atlanteans. But, once we had higher resolution images, that so-called face turned out to simply be a regular old a hill."

Dr. Killjoy shook his head. "People have a natural tendency to perceive familiar objects in random images. sort of like how people 'see' dogs and sheep when they look up at the clouds. So they 'saw' a face on mars a few years ago, and now they 'see' a little block of suburban housing, half-covered with Martian sand. Me, I just don't see the illusion, but I'm willing to take people's word for it that they 'see' such a thing. None of the professionals here at JPL saw it, either, not until a janitor walked by, pointed to it on a monitor, and asked, 'Is that Glendale?' I think it comes down to 'believing is seeing.'"


Highest resolution image presently available of the formation at the bottom of Mozina Crater.

"It's no doubt just a jumble of rocks," said Killjoy. I'm sure that, when we have better imaging, one day this newest illusion will evaporate, just like the 'Face of Mars' did. Until then, I see nothing."


Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.

Edited by - HalfMooner on 01/14/2007 21:00:44

Neurosis
SFN Regular

USA
675 Posts

Posted - 01/14/2007 :  23:13:03   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Neurosis an AOL message Send Neurosis a Private Message
Where is the water? Or do they live without such a trivial chemical, being as advanced as they are.

Facts! Pssh, you can prove anything even remotely true with facts.
- Homer Simpson

[God] is an infinite nothing from nowhere with less power over our universe than the secretary of agriculture.
- Prof. Frink

Lisa: Yes, but wouldn't you rather know the truth than to delude yourself for happiness?
Marge: Well... um.... [goes outside to jump on tampoline with Homer.]
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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 01/14/2007 :  23:22:45   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Neurosis

Where is the water? Or do they live without such a trivial chemical, being as advanced as they are.

Well, it's in the (alledged) swimming pool.


Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.
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Dave W.
Info Junkie

USA
26022 Posts

Posted - 01/15/2007 :  00:16:39   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Dave W.'s Homepage Send Dave W. a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by HalfMooner

...Mozina Crater...
That almost made beer come out my nose.

- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too.
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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 01/15/2007 :  01:20:16   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message
That was the plan, Dave.


Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.
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furshur
SFN Regular

USA
1536 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2007 :  09:03:39   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send furshur a Private Message
quote:
quote:
Originally posted by HalfMooner
...Mozina Crater...
That almost made beer come out my nose.

Ya got me too, mooner, only I was (suppose to be) working, so it was "coffee on the keyboard".


If I knew then what I know now then I would know more now than I know.
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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 01/16/2007 :  18:13:14   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message
I love this, it's so full of good karma and transactional justice. I make you guys laugh, which makes you choke, which makes me laugh.

I wonder how many people have been killed by humorists? Some stuff's made me choke. Breathing in liquids can cause pneumonia. Humor probably has killed.

Hmmm: Maybe I outta write jokes to entertain the very worst of the fundies, instead?




Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.
Edited by - HalfMooner on 01/16/2007 18:14:06
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