Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

7 years 7 months ago #8809 by dude

Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks? was created by dude

mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl-raw-images/msss/00812/mhli/0812MH0003250050301004E01_DXXX.jpg
am I seeing two sets of wheel tracks on these images? did NASA try to drive over the other set to confuse the images? am I making something out of nothing? help me decide if I am just misidentifying these.

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7 years 6 months ago #8810 by RocketDawg

Replied by RocketDawg on topic Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

The most logical answer, I suppose, is that they're not rover tracks. They're certainly not from Curiosity unless it somehow changed "tires". I don't know what they are but they do indeed look strange.

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7 years 6 months ago #8811 by lenseye

Replied by lenseye on topic Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

The "other" set of track markings are very similar to those left by a track laying vehicle.....Bulldozer,snow mobile.....etc.
I noticed they are oblong & wide just the typeof mark track pads leave..........Just a thought.

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7 years 6 months ago #8812 by Badsneaker

Replied by Badsneaker on topic Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

Looks to me that someone went to a lot of trouble to cover up something in the image. I wonder why the tracks weren't covered up as well?

I inverted the image, changed it from 8 bits to 16 bits/channel, sharpened it up a bit and adjusted the colors. If you increase the size beyond 100% you can see the "sand" pixelates differently than the rest of the image. Unfortunately for me I don't have the technique down enough to uncover what is being hidden by the sand. Maybe someone else can...

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7 years 6 months ago #8813 by Todd

Replied by Todd on topic Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

The additional tracks are made on the way back to Book Cliffs, they drive in a circle leaving two sets of tracks. One set is from sol 785-787 and the other set is from sol 812-817.

www.midnightplanets.com/web/MSL/term/book_cliffs.html
www.midnightplanets.com/web/MSL/site/0441546.html
www.midnightplanets.com/web/MSL/site/0440036.html
mars.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/?ImageID=6794
an.rsl.wustl.edu/msl/mslbrowser/document.aspx?d=1508

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7 years 6 months ago #8815 by dude

Replied by dude on topic Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

I am sure that's true Todd but still, at the distance these images were taken, I just do not see the Rover's distinctive "W" tread marks in some sections. some "w" tracks are showing I admit. even if the Rover backed up exactly over the same path I don't see how it could produce the square pattern. maybe this is a combination of pixels & optical illusion.
if any of this observation turned out to be true, then the implications would be mind-blowing.

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7 years 6 months ago #8816 by Todd

Replied by Todd on topic Two Different Sets of Wheel Tracks?

I think the rover tracks can take on different patterns depending on how deep the loose surface material goes. Like this track from sol 1649, it looks more like a square waffle pattern than the typical zig-zag.
www.midnightplanets.com/web/MSL/image/01649/NRB_543884005EDR_F0620108NCAM00399M_.html
Also the rover tracks degrade rather quickly, morphing their shape after a few sols. Any older tracks will likely have a different appearance from fresh tracks.

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