An Ode to Clarke and Asimov – The Giant ‘Asimov Monolith’ on Mars

A Saturn Ark and RaptorZone Collaboration

Saturn Ark may have discovered what might be a witty Ode to both Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov in Asimov Crater.

This is a collaborative work between SaturnArk and RaptorZone in which evidence supporting this speculation is presented.

This photograph (ESP_012411_1320) was taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) HiRISE Camera on 20 March 2009.

NASA describes this photograph as “Cascading Channel in Noachis Pit Crater in MOC M12-00595.”

Discovered is what looks like a huge ancient, eroded and damaged Monolith-type object in Asimov Crater and an extensive debris field.

Could the naming of Asimov Crater be a witty Ode to both Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov?

It is well known that there was a witty rivalry between Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, both undisputed masters of science fiction in the 20th century.

“Clarke chose to ratify the treaty in the dedication to his essay collection Report on Planet Three and Other Speculations, a wry encapsulation of his witty war with his fellow titan of the genre: In accordance with the terms of the Clarke-Asimov treaty, the second-best science writer dedicates this book to the second-best science-fiction writer.” Barnes & Noble

“Asimov Crater is an impact crater in the Noachis quadrangle of Mars, located at 47.0° S and 355.05° W. It is 84.0 km in diameter and was named after Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), an American biochemist and writer. The name was officially adopted on May 4, 2009.” Wikipedia

On 20 March 2009 NASA’s HiRISE photographed a Monolith-type object which Clarke wrote about in his 2001: A Space Odyssey and the craters name, Asimov Crater, was officially adopted on 04 May 2009, almost two months later.

All Clarke’s monoliths are rectangular with dimensions in the ratio of 1 : 4 : 9 (the squares of the first three positive integers, i.e. 1² : 2² : 3²). The Monolith-type object on Mars measure approximately 33 metres by 75 metres, which yields an aspect ratio of 2.27 whereas the aspect ration of Clarke’s Monoliths are 2.25 (9 divided by 4). The exact measurements are difficult to obtain as the Monolith is damaged and somewhat buried.

Could it be that NASA named this Asimov Crater to poke fun at Clarke and Asimov? The two authors would probably see the humor in it. Furthermore, could Clarke have had insider information about the Monolith-type object on Mars before we wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Pure speculation as always, these anomalies look like something unnatural and are not specifically something unnatural.

I downloaded the HiRise B&W Map-Projected JP2 file’s to view these anomalies.

Original NASA source: www.uahirise.org/ESP_012411_1320

SaturnArk's YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCySOYRMzr3z7I-O9Cn_NjMQ

My Blog Post: mars.raptorzone.co.za/2018/04/20/an-ode-to-clarke-and-asimov-the-giant-asimov-monolith-on-mars/

Asimov Monolith Google Earth Mars Co-ordinates file: mars.raptorzone.co.za/downloads/Asimov-Monolith.kmz

Special thank you to: NASA, JPL and University of Arizona.

Barnes & Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/the-secret-decades-long-flame-war-between-arthur-c-clarke-and-isaac-asimov/

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimov_(crater)

My YouTube Video featuring these anomalies:



My Mars Anomalies YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCWI9L6oxXszc-iCy3ApVeiA