Censored Mars Spirit Rover Image!

Was wondering if anyone had read anything on why this image is censored? I cannot think of any logical reason for NASA blackening out part of the sky on Mars other than them not wanting us to see something!

Source
marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov...



Mod Note: Image Size – Please Review This Link.

Very strange.. the sun maybe? but still dont know why they would block out the sun

Perhaps it was a mistake. There doesn't seem to be anything of significance in the region that was obscured. Just my opinion, though.

Well now, that's an interesting "Name Label" over the picture.
I'm sure Weedwacky or Chadwiky will say that's it's from pixalation or Van Allen Belt reflection
I would like a NASA explanation though.
Nice find.
SnF

added the whole image here
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/2957418011b6.jpg[/atsimg]

where does it say that nasa added the black square, I can only see the pic in your link nothing more about it
never mind I found it

I have to say though why would they even release the picture if there was actually something there that they had to block out.... Surely they could just keep the image quiet?

reply to post by Niccawhois


Wow. That circle of stones on the right just sort of jumps out at ya....

Probably just a coincidence... but still...

I don't know why this is done, but this is a pic of the same area from the same series.

marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov...

Originally posted by smurfy
I don't know why this is done, but this is a pic of the same area from the same series.

translate.google.com...://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/spirit_p2151_text.html&rurl=translate.go ogle.ca&twu=1

any chance you could try that again?

reply to post by Niccawhois
The image is off the pancam from Sol 2151. At this point the Rover was winding down and stuck in one place.

Spirit Prepares for Winter - sols 2151-2158, Jan. 20-28, 2010 Spirit is still embedded in the area called "Troy" on the west side of Home Plate. Energy levels for Spirit have been decreasing rapidly as winter approaches. To prepare for winter, the project is taking actions to improve northerly tilt of the rover to maximize solar illumination. []... As of Sol 2158 (Jan. 28, 2010), the rover solar array energy production was down to 182 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.379 and a dust factor of 0.522. Total odometry is 7,730.46 meters (4.80 miles).

Source

The black spaces in images mean that only partial data made its way to NASA. Efforts to move the Spirit Rover, combined with taking images, might have effected the power to transmit the data successfully. It reminds me of making calls when my battery is dying, reception/transmission tails off and comes back again.

reply to post by Niccawhois


How do you know it's censored and not just an error?

You're jumping to conclusions.




Mod Note: Excessive Quoting – Please Review This Link

I don't really see anything that would deserve to be censored, but it is strange. I do have a question and I understand that this may sound stupid and silly, and I understand that communication is an issue with this. But is there not any night pictures on Mars? If so I would really like to see what the night sky on Mars looks like just cause I am curious.

Never mind answered my own question. 3dastronomer.com...

reply to post by Golithion


I'd have to assume that you wouldnt see anything other than blackness...

reply to post by Golithion
www.universetoday.com...

reply to post by Kandinsky


Nice thank you for that found another image that is pretty cool from JPL on that subject: www.jpl.nasa.gov...

reply to post by Golithion


oops i was wrong

I have to say that yes they may have has a transmision faliure ... but no failure would leave such a rectangular strait edged blank spot... a transmision failure would take out a much more jagged full width area...unless i am very mistaken this is not a transmision problem.

Maybe they took that picture while a martian family fly home from shopping in Venus.
c'mon man, we are not ready for this.

reply to post by tokzik


I dont know but I was thinking that each pic is probably made up of several pics so what we are seeing is one whole missing/failed pic (like a missing jigsaw piece)

Looks like 'The Man' got to that data with his algorithms while it was in transit.

Something stands out a little too much and 'data loss' occurs. That's one theory.