Explaining The Misinterpreted Images Of "Stadium On Mars"

Details: Category: Mars; Written by Will Farrar; Hits: 4882

Explaining the "Stadium On Mars"...

Claim: Opportunity Rover sent back an image of what looks to be a Stadium on Mars.

Sample Article: AMAZING : NASA captures amazing structure on Mars

Current Image Circling the Internet:

CLAIM = FALSE/Misinterpreted

What we are seeing here is the bottom of Opportunity Rover's solar panels that are on the top of almost every Rear HAZCAM image as illustrated in the animated GIF below of the Rover driving off of the landing pad. In the sequence of images you can clearly see the under side of the solar panels along with the wires and circuits in the top of each photo that give the illusion of "buildings" on Mars.

As further evidence you can see this illustration from NASA that shows the position and angles of each camera on the Opportunity Rover. Link = http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/spacecraft_rover_eyes.html

So... What are we actually seeing in the images? Here are some photos taken of the actual Rover Hardware before it was launched to Mars. The Arrows and Boxes show the exact hardware that is being mistaken for the buildings.

(Courtesy Mars Moon Space Photo Zoom Club YouTube Video Below)

For further information about the Opportunity Rover itself you can visit the official NASA site for the mission that explains the various rover parts at http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/spacecraft_surface_rover.html