Phoenix Polar Projection shows shiny shard sentinel

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?

I dont know it could be anything.
Rock outcropping.
It's just too far away and too blurry to really say what it could be.
I'm not saying your wrong but doesnt look like much to me.

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