Mars photos hailed as "Holy Grail"

[0rganism]

Mars photos hailed as "Holy Grail"
Mon 26 January, 2004 19:32
By Ben Berkowitz

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Photos from the surface of Mars taken by the newly-landed Opportunity rover offer a "Holy Grail" for geologists, leaders of NASA's mission to the Red Planet say.

...

Opportunity, which landed on Mars early Sunday in a small and shallow crater in what scientists called an "interplanetary hole-in-one", has begun the process of shooting a 360-degree image of its landing area using a panoramic camera set-up called a "pancam".

In the meantime, scientists said, a "postcard" assembled from photos shot out of the back of the rover are showing significant rock formations.

"We're seeing outcrops ... this is like a Holy Grail for geologists to be able to see these incredible rocks," said Jim Bell, the team's leading camera specialist. "There's a lot more coming and we couldn't be happier, more thrilled, with what we're see at this incredible landing site."

more

view from the Opportunity

[nolabels]

1. Holy crap

To bad * wasn't on the thing when it took off for that mission to Mars. He did say he wanted to go there, didn't he?

[soothsayer]

2. too bad he wasn't under it

when it landed

[Lisa]

10. dibs on his ruby slippers! (n/t)

...

[TacticalPeek]

20. LOL! n/t

[tinrobot]

17. Or under it

...as it blasted off.

[beawr]

3. It gladdens me to see that the Right Wing Christians

still allow this sort of thing....

[0rganism]

4. Do you think they would, if evidence of life were discovered?

I sometimes wonder how those people hedge their bets...

[Dogmudgeon]

6. They'll amend the Constitution

"Life shall be defined as coming from the Earth, and being constituted of one left-hand string of DNA and one right-hand string of DNA, ONLY."

Praise Jeebus!

--bkl

[Qutzupalotl]

9. That is too funny.

Good one, bkl!

[beawr]

33. LOL

Amen

[Nihil]

34. Remember the Book of Ashcroft (chapter 11) ...

> ... one left-hand string of DNA and one right-hand string of DNA ...

"Any occurrences involving two left-hand strings or two right-hand
strings are an abomination and will not be allowed to marry."

:-)

[WillParkinson]

27. Foul-Well...

Said many years ago that they may discover life on other planets but it won't be INTELLIGENT life.

Like there's much of that on Earth.

[pinto]

5. Memo to Bush* : The world is not flat. Science is OK. Keep your crusade

out of space. Kudos to Mars team....

[0rganism]

7. Odd that this success of science is lauded in religious terms

We didn't just find a crater with particularly promising geological features to examine, we found a "holy grail". I wonder how much of that metaphor is intended to satisfy the crusade-minded.

[Dudley_DUright]

8. I would not read too much into that statement

Scientists are always talking about "the holy grail" in particular sub-branches. For example in physics, the holy grail is the so called theory of everything (string theory). However, I do think that the real holy grail of Mars research would be the confirmation of life (either fossilized or current) and how it may compare to life on earth.

[0rganism]

18. Sure, I know it's a common metaphor, but I still think it's an odd phrase

...to apply to a triumph of science and engineering.

We have, in technological progress, a very careful process of experimentation and discovery, that bears fruit in gradual increments. This, for some reason, is held comparable to a Christianity-adapted Celtic mythical quest. I know it's romantic to think of oneself as questing when doing research and design, but why not compare the landing to "hitting the jackpot" or even "landing in Hispanola"? It's always the mythical metaphors that roll out.

"Slaying the dragon" is another one, sort of the perennial metaphor for civilized triumph over forces of nature.

[TrogL]

11. The Holy Grail is not in the Bible

There is no mention of the Grail in the Bible.

There was a cup at the last supper.
There may or may not have been a cup at the Crucifixion.
There is no evidence whatsoever that this is the same cup.
There is no evidence whtasoever that this cup has any special powers.

Hence, fundies don't like the Grail story.

Be that as it may, some people do believe in the Grail and are offended when it comes up as imagery.

[reprobate]

13. "Holy Grail" is a mistranslation.

The original was "San Gral" meaning 'holy blood', meaning the bloodline of jesus.

[evworldeditor]

21. How did we get from Mars to the DaVinci Code?

... but think of the odds of landing inside a shallow crater 125 million miles away within a few meters of an outcropping of Martian bedrock.

[AngryAmish]

24. Avoid the death probe!

[starroute]

14. The Holy Grail is not in any way Christian

It's well known that it's tightly bound up with pagan / wasteland / dying king themes.

There also seem to be Persian mystical influences -- a mixture of Jamshid's cup, from traditional Persian legend, with Sufi wine/cup imagery.

The Grail itself is neither derived from nor particularly congenial to Christian doctrine.

In fact, I would guess that Arthurian legend in general is almost entirely either Celtic or Eastern in origin. It owes remarkably little to general European sources.

[Lisa]

12. as an environmental/planetary scientist ...

... the Holy Grail for me would be a Martian broadcast explaining that they have been monitoring the situation on Earth via news broadcasts for the past few years, and feel compelled to warn us that this administration's cuts to the EPA, abrogation of international treaties like the Kyoto Protocol, and disrespect towards their own distinguished scientists like Robert Watson are EXACTLY the kind of thing that trashed the once-beautiful Martian biosphere. And that George Walker Bush is acting just like their former leader, Emperor K'hkaragog, who was deposed and exiled to Phobos as punishment for his crimes.

[0rganism]

32. Great Idea! I love it.

Let's exile bush to Phobos, too. That alone would make the manned Mars missions worthwhile.

[AngryAmish]

15. I'm very worried about these Mars probes

Doesn't anybody remember the episode of the Six Million Dollar Man where there was a rogue Mars probe on the loose? I think it was a two-part episode. The Sasquach may also have been in that one.

Anyway, imagine if they got loose. Scary.

[AngryAmish]

22. My fear may have been overblown

Anyway, the episode of the Six Million Dollar man had a SOVIET probe of VENUS. Obviously, this was much more dangerous than the US probes of Mars. It was a two-parter and the Sasquatch did not have a role.

[AngryAmish]

23. Uh-Oh, the death probe returns

This was another two-parter. This time the death probe is tougher, and in the control of terrorists. This could mean trouble. Now I'm scared again.

[Ripley]

25. Do you often talk to yourself?

I'm confused...you're Amish and Angry and use the Internet?

[AngryAmish]

31. Listen, you may not care about Martian death probes

However, it may be a threat to our safety. And I for one will not stand for it.

[nolabels]

26. Is it true that Bigfoot has six toes?

Welcome!

You have entered...

...The Sasquatch Zone!

This site is dedicated to the collection and reporting of Bigfoot, Yeti, Yowie, Sasquatch, and Skunk Ape sightings

http://www.cactusventures.com/saswatch.htm

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. Holy Grail or not

This is pretty cool.

[alfredo]

29. I just made it 3D for you

[DoYouEverWonder]

35. Wow, very cool

Now, what the heck is it. Just an outcrop of rocks? It seems too symmetrical?

[Ripley]

19. Isn't the Holy Grail really about Mother Nature?

It would be exciting if they really did find out more clues about why we are here.

I don't necessarily believe this is a religious overtone from the scientists, but a metaphor for a great find.

[alfredo]

28. May I be the first to make a Monty Python reference?

[wysi]

30. Just to the left...

... in the photo you will see the fabled 'Bridge of Death'.