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NASA’s Curiosity rover has sent back its first high-resolution photographs from Mars – giving humanity its first detailed look at the landscape of another planet.
The colour contrast has been adjusted by NASA – the original is covered with a yellow-orangey hue – in order to make the photo reflect what Mars would look like if it had the same level of natural sunlight as does Earth.
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This is only a tiny slice of the image sent back by the $2.5 billion rover, which will shortly begin its trek to the top of the mountainous region seen in this photo. It’s from there that the rover will begin its more intensive work.
To give some sense of perspective: the mountain ridge at the top of the image is 16.2 kilometres away; the hilly region at the bottom is about 5.5 kilometres from where Curiosity took the photo last Thursday.
If you look really closely at the centre of the photo, you’ll see a small black dot on a flat area in front of the foremost hill. NASA says that dot is a rock which is about the same size as Curiosity itself – which is about the size of an average family car.
Anyone looking to see the original 1463-by-1928-pixel photo in all its 2MB, yellowish glory, click here.
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A very poignant and emotional moment felt during the #Shineyourlight. Really brought it all home. RTE should follow up and repeat this image every day at 6 O’clock in place of the Angelus at least for the duration of the emergency. Stay safe all cool heads/clean hands.
@Sean Brennan: or they could use images from tonight during the angelus to keep everyone happy. Poignant is the only word for tonight alright. Stay safe
Seriously, not every item has to become a political issue.
This is just a nice simple gesture of hope and solidarity.
Let’s keep it that way. There are plenty of other threads to voice your discontent.
Well done to my country. You have made me proud during these dark days.
@2thFairy: unfortunately it is being promoted/pushed by politicians. when was the last time you heard of a show of gratitude been advertised on the radio.
@2thFairy: The politicians taking part and promoting themselves doing so have made it a political issue. Aside from that, literally everything is politics!
@alphasully: We don’t usually find ourselves in situations such as this to have a history of advertising them! Has it struck you that perhaps these things are being advertised for those who are cocooning alone, have spoken to no one in days or weeks, don’t have social media and otherwise wouldn’t know about them? That they are advertised in order to try and ensure and maintain some sense of community and connectivity? Not everything has to be political or cynical. If you’ve nothing good to say, just say nothing
@2thFairy: yes I couldn’t agree more, lets all stop criticising politicians and pretend we didn’t vote for FFG in the GE and then announce you will next time as they are doing a marvellous job.. NPHET are making all decisions apart from ports as Leo takes his orders from Brussels. Never forget how these people have behaved.
@Ciaran Goggins: Ah go on outta that for Gods sake. Always one begrudger. Citizens showing SOLIDARITY has nothing to with how they’re paid. Nowt good to say? Say nothing so. Good boy.
For once could ye not just scroll on and keep the moaning and whinging to yourselves. My whole road is lit up as a mark of respect to the dead, the ill and the frontline workers.
It looks beautiful and is a sign that a lot of people are sparing a thought. Just leave it at that and whinge somewhere else for once in your bloody lives.
@Dara O’Brien: Couldn’t agree more. So many people feel lonely and/or at a loss, this gesture of solidarity harms no-one and may very well be of help to many. I can’t understand anyone going to the trouble of commenting negatively on it, but I guess there are always a few sadly
@Brendan O’Donoghue: I can’t believe people think Ireland is doing well. The death rate per million population is no better than the USA. More action is needed. All arrivals on the island must be quarantined for two weeks. Until that happens, how can thing improve?
@Tanks a Minion: sock of this comment. Look at the deaths per million in Andorra and San Marino then have a think for yourself. The US has so far had 1,700 deaths today, increasing their deaths per million by 3. Our 33 increased our by 8. But if you want to go by per million stats then we’ve done 2,000 more tests per million than the US and 5,000 per million more than the US. But that’s not a good indicator for the reasons I’ve already stated.
@meh: he’s correct
It’s not your fault your are too stupid to underhand it
Compare australia and their measures and stats vs us , maybe then you’ll understand the incompetence and miss management
@Dave O’Keeffe: are you for your real ? You are being San Marino into it of course they have distorted numbers look at any OECD country with a population greater than 500k
I’m sorry but these shows of solidarity appear too forced and not spontaneous. if we mean this then these shows of gratitude should be daily, not at the whims of politicians or persons or authority
@alphasully: stoppit. It was a lovely gesture. Neighbours came out to introduce themselves in some cases, offer help if needed. Not forced, you didn’t have to do anything, you could stay on your sofa and watch TV if that’s your desire. It was heart warming and anything that brings us together in these dark days has to be positive. Somebody has to think of it, put it out there and get us together. How else could it be spontaneous?
Here’s a novel idea pay them what they deserve .. give them tax breaks on over time during this crisis.. lighting candles etc . Are all great but show the support from the top not just lip service and gestures as nice as they are ..
@John kavanagh: true but the ordinary person can’t grant that so it’s nice for people to show support in whatever way they can. If front line staff aren’t treated with more respect by the politicians in this country after this then they never will be. Let’s hope they will be, but at the moment it’s lovely to see every day people showing support in whatever way they can.
Thank you also to the trade unions who have ensured HSE workers have decent pay and conditions. Time for hospitialty workers to follow the tireless and heroic example of these great people in joining a union.
I wonder how many of the covidiots lit a light in their holiday homes today in solidarity. I’d bet all of them did but they have no insight into how their selfishness is exacerbating the situation.
@Ale Ceaser: great, we’ll come on everybody, let’s make this a weekly thing. We still have a long road ahead of us, so let’s keep this going, thanking the frontline staff, and honouring all those who have passed and are still fighting this. And it will give us a focus to make it better and more of an impact every week. #ShineYourLight
I understand that people need hopexin a time when they feel scared.
Our healthcare staff shouldn’t have to be heroes. The hollowed out healthcare system forces them into that role. The learning from this is to look after the workers that really are deserving respect like those keeping us healthy fed and the bins emptied. The melodramatic narrative of those who feel they are born to rule is nauseating in the face of the choices made previously to put them at risk.
Disgusting to see so many Shinners hijacking the comments section with their usual whinging and moaning in an effort to steer the Cult Of Sinn Féin into power. SF disappeared once there was a crisis. Cowards. The political figures put in place by the Army Council have shown themselves up to be unsuited to any position of responsibility and decision making.
Whinge. Moan. Whinge. Moan. Never offer a solution. The SF way.
@Mick Early: Too True Mike
All entry ports should have been on lockdown since day one ,only open for essential transport of goods and services. For all the years the government was in power they had no money to pay the pensioners their rightful pension or run the HSE Now they are encouraging and opening the way for Visitors/ Irish to flock into the country without paying much attention to health checks at point of entry.
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