Brand new impact crater on Mars.

[longship]

The great thing about the longevity of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is that we can see changes taking place on the Red Planet, such as this relatively new and rather large impact crater. This image shows a stunning 30-meter-wide crater with a rayed blast zone and far-flung secondary material surrounding. Scientists say the impact and resulting explosion threw debris as far as 15 kilometers in distance.

Read more: Brand New Impact Crater Shows Up on Mars

Awesome! Eh?

[DetlefK]

1. Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

[csziggy]

2. Is this anywhere near the jelly donut?

Maybe that is a piece of debris from this impact if it's nearby?

[longship]

3. I don't think so.

I think the jelly doughnut was kicked up from the rover's wheels. At least that's what they're saying is most likely.

[Fumesucker]

4. Sorry, honey.. I forgot you didn't want me to flip that switch .. Are you ok?

[jakeXT]

5. "Viking had already taken all the pictures we ever needed of Mars."

Malin was convinced that valuable science could be done by a high resolution camera orbiting Mars. However, he met with skepticism from NASA officials. Malin was told "Viking had already taken all the pictures we ever needed of Mars." Malin thought that position was absurd. (Interview, Space.com 6/2000). Malin and Ed Danielson, a friend from Caltech days, jointly thought up a camera which would be able to resolve objects 6.5 feet across. NASA was not very interested but, in 1985, they gave Malin and Danielson $50,000 to come up with a proposal. Their design was telescope mated to an electronic camera. The camera was approved, and Malin now had to build it.

Building the camera took years and was delayed several times by NASA. In the spring of 1992, with launch only months away, the camera was installed on the Mars Observer. The launch was successful and in January 1993 it took some photos but then, the Observer spacecraft ceased operations. Fortunately, MSSS had built a double and so two years later, the double was sent up (in November 1996) and that camera worked flawlessly for the next decade.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_C._Malin

[Warren DeMontague]

6. WHAT HAVE WE DONE NOW???????

I knew we shouldn't have bombed the moon! HUMANZ ARE DESTROYING TEH YUNIVERRRRRRSE

ps