Mars

"MEDICINE LODGE" in X3D Stereo

Details: Category: Mars; Written by David Gannett; Hits: 784

“MEDICINE LODGE” - in X3D Stereo

Curiosity Sol 1520 M100 SE-S PDS by Neville Thompson

Link: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/201238/snapshots/621026

This fabulous PDS gigapan by the redoubtable Nev-T shows a wonderful range of terrain and colors and is of course, loaded with anomalies of all kinds. What caught my eye was a long (some 300 yards long?) reflective ledge at the center of our context view. I just had to get up close and personal.

Going to our detail view, it’s easy to see that the left end is a metallic tube, not unlike an oval tanker one sees on the highway except much, MUCH larger. Sunlight glints off the reflective surface. If you take time to “sink into” the 3D image, you can see that piping and regular divisions run all along the structure’s length until it disappears into the hillside. Hidden by the title graphic is a large, square, smooth structure that I would have presented had there been enough resolution. You can judge for yourself if it is anomalous when you click the link above.

Research station? Military housing? An industrial outpost? Who knows? What it is for certain is NOT NATURAL!

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“SO, HOW DO I VIEW X3D STEREO?”

Simple! While viewing the stereo pair at a comfortable distance, gently cross your eyes (no eye-strain) until you perceive three images all the same width. The one in the center is in 3D. Just relax into it and your eyes will automatically bring it into focus. Once you have it, you will never forget how to do it. Kinda like riding a bicycle…

For another, more detailed method of viewing X3D stereo, click HERE.

(Click for full-sized image)

"FLOATER" - in X3D Stereo

Details: Category: Mars; Written by David Gannett; Hits: 1095

“FLOATER” in X3D Stereo

Curiosity Sol 1520 M100 SE-S PDS by Neville Thompson

Link: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/201238/snapshots/621028

Today’s context view has a small item that just kind of pops out down there in the right-hand corner.

Zooming in for our detail view, we find a startling object: a “floater”, one of those rocks often found by anomalists that seem to defy gravity. Oftentimes it’s simply a matter of fortuitous shadowing that gives the illusion of floating. But when the 3D information is extracted on this particular “floater”, we find that it does indeed appear to be clear of the ground!

Not only that, but in examining the disappointingly-blurry blowup, we find symmetry. It seems to be a semi-circular craft of uniform thickness, aerodynamically smooth and sporting portholes or intakes on the leading edge. Given the distance from the cameras and the terrain shown in the context view, it seems safe to conservatively estimate its diameter as between three and five feet.

Unfettered speculation wants to call this a drone or small scout ship, either automated or carrying some very small occupants indeed. Or you can, with some resultant pain, bend yourself into an evidence-denying pretzel and proclaim it to be (get ready, this is really original) – a rock!

Now you can sleep at night, right?

The rest of us will continue to patiently garner photographic evidence to back up our contentions that Mars has had an active humanoid presence from the distant past to the present day. Sleep? Not us. Our curiosity and passion keep us awake all hours!

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“SO, HOW DO I VIEW X3D STEREO?”

For another, more detailed method of viewing X3D stereo, click HERE.

(Click for full-sized image)

"DERELICT SHELTER" in X3D Stereo

Details: Category: Mars; Written by David Gannett; Hits: 698

“DERELICT SHELTER” in X3D Stereo

Curiosity Sol 1448 M100 W PDS by Neville Thompson

Link: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/201836/snapshots/620964

Now this is something that simply doesn’t belong in the geology of our context view! Over on the right-hand side, a rectangular box pops out of a layer of table rock emerging from the sandy hillside.

Taking a closer look, our detail view shows what seems to be a derelict shelter, a neatly-formed rectangular tube or box. Sand chokes the entranceway. At the rear it seems to be nested within a form-fitting corner-shaped box of thicker material. Part of the same structure? And look to the right. A tubular formation juts from the sand, rising to the same height as the entrance. A ventilation tube? The overall impression is that of a shelter, long-abandoned and worn with time, tattered with the relentless onslaught of blowing sand.

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“SO, HOW DO I VIEW X3D STEREO?”

For another, more detailed method of viewing X3D stereo, click HERE.

(Click for full-sized image)

"CAPSTAN & CAP" in X3D Stereo

Details: Category: Mars; Written by David Gannett; Hits: 735

“CAPSTAN AND CAP” in X3D Stereo

Curiosity Sol 1448 M100 W PDS by Neville Thompson

Link: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/201836/snapshots/620954

So, what’s a capstan doing on Mars? We know that Mars was once an ocean planet not unlike earth. Indeed, we have found any number of nautical artifacts scattered across the surface including boat remains, anchors, other capstans, docking cleats, docks, heavy chain and the list goes on.

The “capstan” sticks out like a sore thumb in our context view. Many anomalists jumped on this one and presented it with various degrees of expertise for consideration by the community. It seemed time to extract the 3D information and render it, hoping to improve our understanding of whatever it is.

Coming in close, our detail view shows a drum or capstan-like device clearly-designed to accommodate the winding of rope or chain. A central hole is seen on top, exactly where the axle or mounting pivot should be.

To the right and just behind the drum is a rectangular plate with two parallel lines. A mounting plate perhaps? And what’s that in the background? The large, circular “cap” appears to be the same size as the capstan. Was it part of the housing? Context is everything (or at least, important) with anomalies. Most anomalists know that if they find one anomaly, others will usually be found nearby. And that seems to be the case here: a large, heavy industrial or nautical capstan breaking apart as it comes to rest at the bottom of the one-time ocean.

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“SO, HOW DO I VIEW X3D STEREO?”

For another, more detailed method of viewing X3D stereo, click HERE.

(Click for full-sized image)

"TRAP DOOR" in X3D Stereo

Details: Category: Mars; Written by David Gannett; Hits: 675

“TRAP DOOR” in X3D Stereo

Curiosity Sol 1432 M34 E-W PDS by Neville Thompson

Link: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/201896/snapshots/620953

“Trap Door” is another popular anomaly, rendered here for the first time in X3D. Our context view once again reveals a debris-laden slope with many curious items to be seen throughout. Today’s attention focuses on the lower left corner where a clean angle presents itself.

Zooming into our detail view, we find a remarkably-symmetrical slab almost like a trap door, jutting out from beneath a boulder. Four things grab our attention: beautiful 90-degree angles, uniform thickness, a nicely-radiused corner on the right and regular, symmetrical notches down the left side. One finds similar notches on hinged covers, where the corresponding notches mate with the other piece, a longitudinal hole down the center running the length of the edge to accommodate the hinge pin.

A product of wind and sand? C’mon, get serious! This is a manufactured item, pinned to the sand when the overlying boulder rolled on top of it. I have ventured the label “trap door” because the boulder, its placement and the resting place on the rock to the left appear more purposeful than accidental. Is it perhaps a somewhat-hidden and sheltered exit from an underground lair? Could be.

More likely, it’s a remnant from the civilization(s) that once flourished on Mars; a stark reminder of what may await Earth if our tumultuous times find no resolution.

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“SO, HOW DO I VIEW X3D STEREO?”

For another, more detailed method of viewing X3D stereo, click HERE.

(Click for full-sized image)

"WHITE BOX" in X3D Stereo

Details: Category: Mars; Written by David Gannett; Hits: 715

“WHITE BOX” in X3D Stereo

Curiosity Sol 1450 M100 N-SE PDS gigapan by Neville Thompson

Link: http://www.gigapan.com/gigapans/202222/snapshots/620414

After viewing thousands upon thousands of images from various off-world probes, anomalist’s eyes become acclimated to two major identifiers that point to an item as being non-fractal, or intelligently designed: geologic context and of course, angles and symmetries that belie a natural origin.

Both are present in today’s context view. In the lower left-hand corner, a white speck declares “I’m not from around here!” And even at this distance, the fact that it’s a box is easily-seen.

Going to hyper-zoom in our detail view, we can see our original instincts were correct. It’s a white rectangular box. What is it and what is it doing here? The surface appears to have ribbing, but it’s too blurry to determine that for certain. The left end is open and partially buried. Given its forty-five-degree angle in the sand, it would appear to have some significant weight. Perhaps it is made of metal or stone?

Whatever the case, this is just one more item that shouldn’t be on the surface of Mars!

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“SO, HOW DO I VIEW X3D STEREO?”

For another, more detailed method of viewing X3D stereo, click HERE.

(Click for full-sized image)