Curiosity Finds a Weird Ball on Mars

Interesting find here, ATS. Curiosity has found what looks like a ball on Mars.

If there's one thing to be said for Curiosity's mission on Mars so far, it certainly hasn't been boring. From supposed Martian squirrels to strange flashes of light on the surface, the rover has kept us entertained. And now there's this rather odd... ball.
Take this recent photographic example from the Mars Science Laboratory's Mastcam camera that was uploaded to the mission's photo archive on sol 746 (Sept. 11). While compiling a mosaic of images of the surrounding landscape, Curiosity captured a rather un-Mars-like shape atop a rocky outcrop.

Hm.m.m.m....balls on Mars........... won't go there! However, this is interesting A perfect ball just sitting on Mars, all by itself is strange indeed. Balls don't just form by themselves from nowhere. What does ATS have to say?

io9.com...

a reply to: lostbook

Arken found it too...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

I'm going to go out on a giant leap and say "Rock"....

originally posted by: Elton
a reply to: lostbook

Arken found it too...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Of course!

a reply to: lostbookIf the rover would have followed directions and followed that arrow, the rest of the mystery may have been revealed...

a reply to: lostbook

Thats not a "marble", its obviously a musket ball. Proof there are Cowboys and Indians on Mars.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: lostbook

Thats not a "marble", its obviously a musket ball. Proof there are Cowboys and Indians on Mars.

Whatever it is, there needs to be a closer look.

At first glance my brain is going WTF ???

But reading further down in the article, it's only about 1cm, the size of a marble, and it's at the bottom of a 3.5 mile high mountain. I can see how it could have been weathered out of softer rock and rolled down the hill.

Cool picture for sure.

originally posted by: anxietydisorder
At first glance my brain is going WTF ???

But reading further down in the article, it's only about 1cm, the size of a marble, and it's at the bottom of a 3.5 mile high mountain. I can see how it could have been weathered out of softer rock and rolled down the hill.

Cool picture for sure.

While that's possible, I see no evidence of it having rolled downhill.

a reply to: lostbook

Whatever it is, there needs to be a closer look.

Okay, funniness aside. These "nodules" on Mars are abundant in places.

I got to check out for now… so here you go…

images

a reply to: intrptr

hmm you seemed to have linked to many dewberrys, are you planning on making martian wine?

funbox

Looks like it could be a football. Google Emile Heskey.

The place is full of balls, Go to image link for closer scrutiny, files.abovetopsecret.com... magnify, and you will see these balls are hairy!

Then again Mars is just one big ball

a reply to: intrptr

Looks like a lead sinker.
Might have been a popular fishing spot.

a reply to: Shaded27
That, or a Martian dingle berry. Either way, it's very odd and out-of-place.

originally posted by: Shaded27
a reply to: intrptr

Looks like a lead sinker.
Might have been a popular fishing spot.

Or a skeet range?

"Pull!"

originally posted by: funbox
a reply to: intrptr

hmm you seemed to have linked to many dewberrys, are you planning on making martian wine?

funbox

Mineral Spirits? A slug of that would make you grit your teeth.

It's all natural isn't it cause nature can do anything ... Next month a octahedron

originally posted by: lostbook

While that's possible, I see no evidence of it having rolled downhill.

That evidence could have been washed away by the sands of time. We just don't have enough information about how long it's been there, or the processes involve in Martian weather and the affect it has on erosion.

This one will remain a mystery until boots on the ground go pick it up, take a look, and then use it as a slingshot marble.