Case File Status: Likely Explainable, See Below

The following photograph was sent to The Black Vault by an anonymous submitter. They are not a “source” but rather wanted The Black Vault to look into the photograph, available publicly for download from NASA/JPL.

First, here is the photograph labeled NLF_0317_0695075595_130ECM_N0090000NCAM00900_02_095J:

Here is a close-up/zoomed/cropped version of the “anomaly” itself:

The official caption of the photo NLF_0317_0695075595_130ECM_N0090000NCAM00900_02_095J by NASA reads:

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its onboard Left Navigation Camera (Navcam). The camera is located high on the rover’s mast and aids in driving.

This image was acquired on Jan. 10, 2022 (Sol 317) at the local mean solar time of 10:47:11.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The same “anomaly” was also captured in photograph NLF_0317_0695075874_065ECM_N0090000NCAM00901_02_095J approximately 4 1/2 minutes later:A close-up of that “anomaly” is at:

The official NASA/JPL caption reads:

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its onboard Left Navigation Camera (Navcam). The camera is located high on the rover’s mast and aids in driving.

This image was acquired on Jan. 10, 2022 (Sol 317) at the local mean solar time of 10:51:42.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Black Vault put both photographs, both from the LEFT navigation camera, on top of each other to create a composite.

It is clear that the angle is completely different from the camera itself, but by doing this, it revealed that the “anomaly” was to the pixel in the exact same spot:

The Black Vault attempted to find the corresponding RIGHT navigation camera, which is usually taken at the same time as the left.

The closest match, would be photograph NRF_0317_0695075595_130ECM_N0090000NCAM00900_02_095J:

As you can see, there appears to be no “anomaly”. The caption indicates that the photo was taken at the same time:

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its onboard Right Navigation Camera (Navcam). The camera is located high on the rover’s mast and aids in driving.

This image was acquired on Jan. 10, 2022 (Sol 317) at the local mean solar time of 10:47:11.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The problem, however, is that numerous photographs listed on the NASA/JPL page for this day, displays the exact same time down to the second. Here is an array of both RIGHT and LEFT camera captures – all with the same time stamp:

So, the timestamp is problematic when matching photographs, but it appears by the composite, the most likely explanation would be a spec of dust temporarily on the lens. As the likelihood of an anomalous object flying in the air, taken in two different angles, would be in the EXACT same pixel-location.

The conclusion on this one, until further evidence is ever presented, would be dust that temporarily was on the lens of the left navigation camera.

To add one further note, it appears that the same effect also happened to the RIGHT navigation camera. This was discovered when sifting through the images to find corresponding evidence, should any exist.

While doing so, it was discovered that on two separate shots, both NRF_0317_0695075874_065ECM_N0090000NCAM00901_04_095J and NRF_0317_0695075595_130ECM_N0090000NCAM00900_04_095J:

… a spec of dust appears to have landed on the RIGHT navigation camera, as well.

When creating a composite, that “anomaly” as well, was in the exact same pixel-location:

The post “Anomaly” Appears In Multiple Mars Photographs Taken on January 10, 2022 (Sol 317) – Here’s a Breakdown first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post “Anomaly” Appears In Multiple Mars Photographs Taken on January 10, 2022 (Sol 317) – Here’s a Breakdown appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.

What are we looking at?: In this photograph, beamed back from the surface of Mars, we can see an object that appears to look like a pyramid. Although usually objects seen on Mars are more or less easily dismissed as pareidolia (seeing things in clouds or photos that aren’t really there) by the nature of what is allegedly in the photograph (ie: a Nazi helmet, a squirrel, or Bigfoot have all been ‘seen on Mars’), this is a bit different. There really isn’t much to mistake in the photo, as it appears to genuinely show a pyramid, which are unnatural.

Official NASA Caption: This image was taken by Mastcam: Right (MAST_RIGHT) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 978 (2015-05-07 23:22:33 UTC).

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Official NASA Source: LINK

Possible Explanations: 

1) Simply an illusion

Comparisons:

Here is a photograph of the great Egyptian pyramids for a comparison.

Background on the Curiosity Mission:

With its rover named Curiosity, Mars Science Laboratory mission is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. Curiosity was designed to assess whether Mars ever had an environment able to support small life forms called microbes. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet’s “habitability.”

Mars Science Laboratory will study Mars’ habitability

To find out, the rover carries the biggest, most advanced suite of instruments for scientific studies ever sent to the martian surface. The rover will analyze samples scooped from the soil and drilled from rocks. The record of the planet’s climate and geology is essentially “written in the rocks and soil” — in their formation, structure, and chemical composition. The rover’s onboard laboratory will study rocks, soils, and the local geologic setting in order to detect chemical building blocks of life (e.g., forms of carbon) on Mars and will assess what the martian environment was like in the past.

Mars Science Laboratory relies on innovative technologies

Mars Science Laboratory will rely on new technological innovations, especially for landing. The spacecraft descended on a parachute and then, during the final seconds prior to landing, lowered the upright rover on a tether to the surface, much like a sky crane. Now on the surface, the rover will be able to roll over obstacles up to 75 centimeters (29 inches) high and travel up to 90 meters (295 feet) per hour. On average, the rover is expected to travel about 30 meters (98 feet) per hour, based on power levels, slippage, steepness of the terrain, visibility, and other variables.

The rover carries a radioisotope power system that generates electricity from the heat of plutonium’s radioactive decay. This power source gives the mission an operating lifespan on Mars’ surface of a full martian year (687 Earth days) or more, while also providing significantly greater mobility and operational flexibility, enhanced science payload capability, and exploration of a much larger range of latitudes and altitudes than was possible on previous missions to Mars.

Arriving at Mars at 10:32 p.m. PDT on Aug. 5, 2012 (1:32 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6, 2012), Mars Science Laboratory will serve as an entrée to the next decade of Mars exploration. It represents a huge step in Mars surface science and exploration capability because it will:
demonstrate the ability to land a very large, heavy rover to the surface of Mars (which could be used for a future Mars Sample Return mission that would collect rocks and soils and send them back to Earth for laboratory analysis)

• demonstrate the ability to land more precisely in a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) landing circle
• demonstrate long-range mobility on the surface of the red planet (5-20 kilometers or about 3 to 12 miles) for the collection of more diverse samples and studies.

The post Is this a pyramid on Mars? first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post Is this a pyramid on Mars? appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.

Official NASA Captions:

Photograph NRB_444283128EDR_F0260000NCAM00251M_.JPG – This image was taken by Navcam: Right B (NAV_RIGHT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 527 (2014-01-29 16:08:16 UTC).

Photograph NLB_444283159EDR_F0260000NCAM00251M_.JPG – This image was taken by Navcam: Left B (NAV_LEFT_B) onboard NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 527 (2014-01-29 16:08:48 UTC).

What are we looking at? In two seperate photographs, captured by the Mars rover, there is an object, presumably a rock, that appears to be floating above the ground.  In the second photograph, as the rover’s camera continues to pan to the right, a large circular formation of rocks appears in the frame as well.

It’s interesting to note that a) the alleged “floating rock” appears in multiple photos, from different angles and the illusion is still the same… and b) in the same frame there appears to be a circular formation of rocks not too far away – a second off “anomaly” in the same general area.

What do you think it is? Post your comments below.

Original NASA Sources:

NRB_444283128EDR_F0260000NCAM00251M_.JPG

NLB_444283159EDR_F0260000NCAM00251M_.JPG

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The post Levitating Rock on the Surface of Mars? Captured in 2 Angles first appeared on The Black Vault Case Files.

The post Levitating Rock on the Surface of Mars? Captured in 2 Angles appeared first on The Black Vault Case Files.