This blogfest is mainly for my cropped photos of the planet Mars and its descriptions. The photos are derived from those sent back to Earth from Mars orbiters and Rovers. I will also post pictures of my tabbies and whatever things of interest I can capture with my digital camera. NOTE: Some comments by viewers may contain objectionable wording. I will delete such comments whenever I find them. NOTE: Please use caution if you wish to visit a website URL from a commentator.
It has been brought to my attention by my now late brother-in-law Mike that in a science website where he used to comment on articles with others, there is a group of people who believe that each and every Mars photo taken by the HiRise camera aboard the MRO are pictures only of the ground; in other words, all flat terrain.
I can't imagine where they would get such bad and untrue information. They probably never bothered to research the MRO/HiRise angle information. In the following link, it states that "Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was about 760 kilometers, or 475 miles, away when it pointed the HiRISE camera obliquely toward the descending Phoenix lander. The camera viewed through the hazy Martian atmosphere at an angle 26 degrees above the horizon when it took the image. "
This shows that the MRO turns toward the target so that the HiRise camera is pointed at an oblique angle. In these webpages, there are many photos taken by HiRise at oblique angles of hillsides, mountains and the sides of mounds. It wouldn't make sense to only take photos of the flat ground, now would it?
Unfortunately, Mike passed away in May 2012 after having gone through heart surgery. He was a good man and we all miss him very much.