Rover, Red Rover, Run Right Over!


Sojourner Overturns Artifact!


During my observations of the Mars Pathfinder exploration of Mars, I was particularily interested in a small rock lying to the left of Yogi. I called the rock "Minor Yogi Artifact" because of the apparent perfect circle on the face of the rock.
I was patiently awaiting the arrival of new images to continue my study of the artifact...but was disappointed when the new images arrived. The rover had run over the artifact and turned it at least 90 degrees to the right!

Below is the preliminary data I was gathering. You be the judge.



Enlarged image (raw)

Enlarged image (enhanced)

Enlarged image (colorized)

Enlarged image (outline)


Image quality of the artifact was very good in the first picture released by NASA/JPL,(#80827), but was greatly reduced in the black and white large panorama image (#81205). I have created mosaics from astronomical imaging and assumed the #80827 was used for the large panorama. If it was, the image quality was greatly reduced.
In subsequent images, details are mottled, but distinctions can be found in comparison to #80827. Only image #81094 demonstrates an acceptable definition of a circle in the center of the artifact. Images #81009 and #81010 also show detail within the center of the artifact, they almost appear to be the same image. The yellow-tan line on #81009 was included to denote crop marks. On image #81010 additional cropping was done to fit the artifact together in it's original form.


This is what the artifact looks like today. I have enhanced the image a great deal from the original "Presidential Panorama," but one can obviously see the artifact has been moved.


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