Dust Devil pictures from Mars

[Michigunner]

Since this is the Off-Topic area, I thought you might enjoy seeing these stunning pictures of dust devils on the planet Mars.

They were taken by one of the space craft which landed there.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/spirit/20050819a/dd_enhanced_568b-B558R1.gif

Bill

[R9SCarry]

Bill - outstanding!!  I too follow some of the imagery from NASA - moon, earth, Mars - any and all.

This is a fascinating image - almost surreal and hard to imagine where it actually is.  Sure proves there is some atmosphere eh!

Thx for the link

[Michigunner]

Thanks, Chris.  I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I've been an astronomy fan for  many, many years, but never imagined something like  this would happen in our lifetime.

[R9SCarry]

Having got to the site - I explored further and downloaded near 90 Mb of vids - dealing with launch of Spirit, and Opportunity - plus some fascinating info on rover testing and deployment.  

Gotta admire the huge team behind all this.

[Richard S]

Bill:

Thanks for posting that link!  The Mars photographs are extraordinary.

I'm also fascinated by astronomy.  In that regard, check out this link to the Hubble Telescope -- some of the photographs take my breath away:

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/showcase.php?index=1

[Michigunner]

Richard, those pictures are astonishing.  I've looked at them several times.

My wife and daughters bought me a premium telescope for Christmas.  We are fortunate to have a second home on the Great Lakes, and I use it to examine passing freighters.

The night sky is spectacular.  If you have to get up in the middle of the night, your eyes make the sky look extremely black, with untold numbers of brilliant stars.

Speaking of wonderful things, I'm still jealous about your little pond.  I could spend time just sitting there watching it, except if a snake came along, of course.

I've always enjoyed Tennessee.  I used to listen to WLAC in Nashville.

We were in Germantown (near Memphis) visiting, and I was impressed with the sign ordinance.  They were all only a few  feet off the ground.

I'm from Arkansas, and have always regretted loosing my accent.

I'm glad you liked the dust devils.

Bill

[Richard S]

Bill:  

Ah, yes, the pond . . . .   I look upon it as a miniature version of Henry David Thoreau's Walden.  It is in many ways a microcosm.  

I introduced two new mallards to the resident little flock of ducks two weeks ago (one drake and one hen).  The newcomers were well received -- much quacking and fluttering about -- and by last weekend they were all inseparable.  

Now, if I can just continue getting rid of the coyotes and feral dogs which come down from the mountains, the flock might be able to sustain itself.  
  

[R9SCarry]

Wow Richard - no idea why but I never got to that site - boy have I been missing stuff.  

So glad you gave the link - now I can really catch up a bit.