Phoenix Polar Projection shows shiny shard sentinel, page

I'm looking at this Phoenix Lander photo from the lander's pole.

photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov...

and at this large JPEG image



Scrolling to the bottom, then slightly left (about 5 o'clock), reveals a shiny spike or spire sticking out of the ground.

I cut it out and rotated it the right way. It ends up looking like this:



It has shadow on it and is of a considerable size compared to any other features or rocks around it. It looks almost golden metallic, with a distinctive glint of shine to it. I'm not sure how far the horizon is in real terms from the pole arm camera, but the object is quite far away, near the horizon.

What could it be?

reply to post by FlakeMaker

---

I have to say that is quite interesting. Could just be a piece of rock or a mineral of some sort. Maybe a part from a failed expedition?

reply to post by FlakeMaker

---

I tracked the original image down to this and I suspect what you're seeing is a reflection off of phoenix's discarded backshell which released the probe moments before landing:
phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu...

According to spaceweather, it's as I suspected, it's phoenix's backshell:
www.spaceweather.com...
(scroll down a bit, they posted it as a red/blue 3d anaglyph)

reply to post by ngchunter

---

Cool, thanks for that!
I thought it might have been a discarded part of the lander, but then I saw no tracks leading from it, or in its direction right next to the Lander. I guess those tracks get covered up by the blowing dust pretty quickly.

reply to post by FlakeMaker

---

The lander left no tracks, it was not mobile at all after it touched down. Once it separated from the backshell, the only thing that caused them to put distance between each other was the difference in fall times and the rocket powered final phase of descent of the lander only lasting a few seconds.

reply to post by ngchunter

---

Brilliant!
That answers all my questions.

Thanks ngchunter

NIBIRU AT LAST?? Brazilian Astronomer claims have found rogue planet hidden behind Neptune.
  Posted 12 days ago with 49 member flags

BREAKING: Sphere Deflects Solar Eruption! May 25, 2012 - SunsFlare
  Posted 1 days ago with 42 member flags

New object near the sun. Video is up. It\'s coming out of the sun. Zoomed in better.
  Posted 13 days ago with 27 member flags

Is an unseen planet skirting edge of our solar system?
  Posted 4 days ago with 27 member flags

ISS call to NASA Reveals \'ENTITY Growing in Size\'; 2 Bright Beams Energy/Light directed AT our Sun
  Posted 16 days ago with 26 member flags

33 Amazing pictures of planet earth taken by Astronaut Andre Kuipers from space
  Posted 8 days ago with 26 member flags

Planet hiding behind Neptune
  Posted 12 days ago with 24 member flags

SOMETHING MASSIVE ON THE SUN!!! Yep sunspot AR1476...An Amateur photo (That’s me!)
  Posted 13 days ago with 23 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time: