Martian caught on camera in its native habitat.

by JGordon on Jan. 23rd, 2008
in Earth and Space Science

comment

You know, this isn't the picture I'm talking about: Sorry.
Courtesy billypaloozaAhoy, Buzzketeers! Put on your astronomy hats and your alien diapers, because Spirit, the Mars rover, has got something crazy to show you: a picture of a person (a Martian person) sitting on a rock on the surface of Mars! (Check out the link for the actual photos.)

“A person on Mars?” you say. “What would a person be doing on Mars?” I knew you would say that, because you’re such a doubter, and the answer is obvious from the picture: they’re waiting for a bus, clearly. At least that’s how the article describes it, and it makes sense, because there’s nothing else to do on the surface of Mars. Unless you’re into rocks.

“You know,” you add, “We’ve seen faces and stuff on Mars before. And they’re made of rock. And they don’t even look very facey when you really check them out.” I knew you would say that, too. Sure, they’re probably just made of rock, but if you’re waiting for a bus (and I didn’t see any buses on the way, so it looks like a long wait) on the frosty surface of mars, it probably helps to be made of rock. I mean, really, take off your astronomy hat for just a second, and put on your thinking cap, because you’ve got to try stepping outside the box on this one.

Pretty rad, huh? Although, I always thought Martians would be, I don’t know, greener.

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

mdr says:

I've fallen and I can't get up: Scientist finds humor even in the cold and desolate Martian environment.
Courtesy NASAFirst there was astronaut Alan Shephard hitting a golf ball on the Moon, and now this. Yet another example of scientists using our tax dollars to do frivolous things instead of serious work.

The guy in the photo is actually a research scientist sent to Mars to find water or maybe fish. I'm almost certain I know who he is. He works at the University of Hawaii's Water Resource Center in Manoa. Just go to this link and scroll down to the name Robert E. Brock and look at his photo. The resemblance is uncanny. If that's not him sitting there yucking it up on the Martian surface, I'll eat my hat. When these scientific types get out in the field, they get all goofy and the shenanigans start up right away. His unfortunate associate has obviously taken a very funny pratfall. I'm betting he was tripped on purpose.

posted on Fri, 01/25/2008 - 2:07pm

Site Navigation

Martian caught on camera in its native habitat.

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

Post new comment

Recent comments

Do steroids help Barry Bonds hit home runs?

Is Soccer the Most Exciting Sport to Watch?

Smithsonian celebrates a new exhibition hall (oh, and a 100-year anniversary)

A Salty Tale of the Dead Sea

Subscribe

I want to learn about

Privacy Statement