Phoenix Polar Projection shows shiny shard sentinel, page 1

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

Newfound "super-Earth"
  Posted 9 days ago with 56 member flags

Enceladus Backlit by Saturn
  Posted 3 days ago with 50 member flags

Mysterious Signal From Outer Space - Is Someone Trying To Contact Us?
  Posted 11 days ago with 29 member flags

Toronto teens send Lego man into space: video
  Posted 17 days ago with 28 member flags

Current Potential Habitable Worlds - Update February 2012
  Posted 1 days ago with 24 member flags

Amazing new photo of Earth. The Blue Marble 2012
  Posted 13 days ago with 22 member flags

It\'s already begun?The reverse of the Magnetic Poles.Sun and Earth.
  Posted 19 days ago with 21 member flags

NASA Probe Captures 1st Video of Moon\'s Far Side
  Posted 10 days ago with 19 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time: