Science NASA’s Curiosity rover saw something flash on Mars, and people are freaking out

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by BigGameDamian, Jun 24, 2019.

  1. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    https://static.adweek.com/adweek.co.../2019/02/hulu-live-sports-content-01-2019.gif

    Mars is almost certainly the next place in our solar system where humans will travel. We’re still many years from actually seeing mankind roaming the Red Planet, but with a number of high-powered instruments already hanging out around Mars and on its surface, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect once we get there… or do we?

    A new image captured by NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover shows something that, at the moment, remains unexplained: a bright flash popping up, seemingly out of nowhere, and with no indication of what may have caused it. The image, which was snapped on June 16th, has quickly taken the internet by storm, but NASA scientists aren’t particularly concerned with what it might mean.

    New Mars rover discovery hints at life, but we're not there yet
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    Mars has a brand new crater, and it sure is pretty

    The flash is only present in one of many consecutive images Curiosity captured that day. Images from just seconds later show absolutely nothing but the baren Martian landscape, so what caused the flash?

    NASA can’t say for certain, but the most likely explanation is rather mundane. When we see something we can’t immediately identify, especially when it’s happening on another planet, it’s easy to jump to some seriously wild conclusions. Perhaps it’s an alien ship zooming through, or an alien surveying the planet with a flashbulb, right? Unfortunately, no.

    Scientists have seen these kinds of flashes in images of Mars before, and generally speaking they never really amount to much. NASA has chalked it up to reflections from distant rocks or glare caused by the Sun. The fact that NASA published a total of 21 images shot over a four-minute span and only one of those pictures includes the bright flash suggests it wasn’t anything particularly meaningful.

    In any case, it’s yet another interesting mystery for scientists to unravel between now and whenever in the near future we finally send human travelers to the Red Planet.
     
  2. riverman

    riverman Writing Team

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    Well he is pretty fast...they're lucky they got one shot at least!
    flash.png
     
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  3. Hobbesarable

    Hobbesarable Cartoon Character

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    Yahoo click bait type headline material: Freaking out. Now, that's funny. :biglaugh:
     
    Last edited: Jun 24, 2019
  4. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    They've seen these flashes before. They think they have to do with methane. They also think methane may be caused by some form of life because life causes methane on Earth. However, there are oceans of methane on Saturn's moon, Titan, which means that any methane source on Mars could just as well, and in my opinion almost certainly, have nothing to do with life on Mars.
     
  5. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    Too bad we don't have a SPACE FORCE to protect us.
     
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  6. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Just close your eyes and say "I believe in SPACE FORCE!" three times and SPACE FORCE will be there!

    barfo
     
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  7. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    We've got a spaced out force in the White House.
     
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  8. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    You forgot, you have to click the heels of your ruby slippers together three times as you say that.
     
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  9. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    NASA’s Curiosity Rover Views First Dazzling “Sun Rays” on Mars

    [​IMG]

    Doesn't look like much, but still pretty cool. Can't wait for the GSW apologist to come in here and complain about homelessness caused by NASA. Meanwhile:

    NASA gets $27.2 billion in White House's 2024 budget request

    .4% of the annual budget.

     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2023
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  10. CJ_is_Gone

    CJ_is_Gone Well-Known Member

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  11. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    June 16th...... "quickly"......

    [​IMG]
     
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  12. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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  13. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Maybe it's dust?
     

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