Comments on: Mars is depressed! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:31:31 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Grinspoon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-154777 Grinspoon Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:23:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-154777 It's obvious, the soviets used to secretly detonate nukes on mars!!! Vela wasn't thinking big enough!!! It’s obvious, the soviets used to secretly detonate nukes on mars!!!

Vela wasn’t thinking big enough!!!

]]> By: tracer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-154280 tracer Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:23:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-154280 Indeed, I have a terrible problem even looking at ordinary craters on pictures of other planets. They all look like domed bumps to me, sticking out rather than sticking in. I have to trick my eyes into seeing them the "other way" until they pop into view properly. Indeed, I have a terrible problem even looking at ordinary craters on pictures of other planets. They all look like domed bumps to me, sticking out rather than sticking in. I have to trick my eyes into seeing them the “other way” until they pop into view properly.

]]> By: JB of Brisbane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-154001 JB of Brisbane Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:24:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-154001 I have to admit I thought this was a raised feature when I first looked at it - my first thought was, "The Zit On The Face On Mars". I have to admit I thought this was a raised feature when I first looked at it – my first thought was, “The Zit On The Face On Mars”.

]]> By: tracer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-153983 tracer Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:15:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-153983 I hope you realize, Phil, that you made me look up the word "anaglyphic". You kids these days and your synonyms for "stereographic"! I hope you realize, Phil, that you made me look up the word “anaglyphic”.

You kids these days and your synonyms for “stereographic”!

]]> By: Boingo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-153672 Boingo Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:45:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-153672 Perhaps the rays and the sink hole were created at the same time by the same event. You said it is in an old mudflow. If the mudflow was caused during a volcanic event, then it is possible that a basin of boiling or near-boiling water (or watery mud) created from melting earlier in the same event could have been overridden by the later mudflow. Steam from the hot water would could then have built up under the thicker mud from the boiling water (or watery mud) underneath, forming a bubble. The bubble then ruptured, spewing out a mix of water and mud, forming the rays. Then, as the mud and water in the basin cooled, and the water evaporated, it contracted and was no longer able to support the thicker mud over top of it, causing the sink hole a few weeks later. Sound plausible? Perhaps the rays and the sink hole were created at the same time by the same event. You said it is in an old mudflow. If the mudflow was caused during a volcanic event, then it is possible that a basin of boiling or near-boiling water (or watery mud) created from melting earlier in the same event could have been overridden by the later mudflow. Steam from the hot water would could then have built up under the thicker mud from the boiling water (or watery mud) underneath, forming a bubble. The bubble then ruptured, spewing out a mix of water and mud, forming the rays. Then, as the mud and water in the basin cooled, and the water evaporated, it contracted and was no longer able to support the thicker mud over top of it, causing the sink hole a few weeks later.

Sound plausible?

]]> By: zeph http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-153623 zeph Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:04:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-153623 I isolate the blue and red parts and pasted into an image: http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7595/mars3dxf8.png You have to cross your eyes/stare into space like a Magic Eye poster - you may have to back away from the monitor for the two images to come together, but your eyes should lock in once you have. I isolate the blue and red parts and pasted into an image:

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7595/mars3dxf8.png

You have to cross your eyes/stare into space like a Magic Eye poster – you may have to back away from the monitor for the two images to come together, but your eyes should lock in once you have.

]]> By: Dusty S http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/comment-page-1/#comment-153566 Dusty S Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:16:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/02/02/mars-is-depressed/#comment-153566 If it were convex rather than concave I would swear that it is a cow chip. Remember the cow that jumped over the moon. Maybe one jumped over Mars. Dusty If it were convex rather than concave I would swear that it is a cow chip. Remember the cow that jumped over the moon. Maybe one jumped over Mars. Dusty

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