For spaced-out hikers. Hiking map of Mars.

[Neil]

Scientists using data from the HRSC experiment onboard ESA's Mars Express spacecraft have produced the first 'hiker's maps' of Mars.

If you consider yourself to be a spaced-out hiker you will want to take note of this new hiker's map of Mars.

 

[weatherman]

As with most hikes, I imagine getting to the trailhead would be the hardest part.

 

[DougPaul]

If you consider yourself to be a spaced-out hiker you will want to take note of this new hiker's map of Mars.

Far out, man!

Doug

 

[Neil]

As with most hikes, I imagine getting to the trailhead would be the hardest part.

And the most dangerous.

Great hiking location for gear-heads.

 

[dr_wu002]

And the most dangerous.

Great hiking location for gear-heads.

Looks mostly like map and compass bushwhacking. I wonder how much spruce you encounter...

-Dr. Wu

 

[Neil]

I already know what food to take. Marsipam.

AFAIK there are no trees on Mars because if there were someone would have posted it on the internet.

There is water but I doubt you need to filter it.

Perhaps DougPaul could give us an idea as to the throw distance comparisons of LED headlamps and GPS functionality.

Would an Earth compass actually work on Mars? Seriously, I don't want to buy gear for nothing.

 

[leaf]

how bad are the black flies?

 

[jbrown]

More likely have to worry about sand fleas.

Anyone got a 100 highest list started yet? No continents, so it's hard to subdivide...

 

[dr_wu002]

I seriously doubt that anyone on this website will ever hike on Mars. It doesn't seem likely.

-Dr. Wu

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

I seriously doubt that anyone on this website will ever hike on Mars. It doesn't seem likely.

-Dr. Wu

Alex and/or Sage might have a shot.....

 

[Neil]

I seriously doubt that anyone on this website will ever hike on Mars.

Heading that way tomorrow. Me guiding Bill Gates in his Marsmobile.

 

[DougPaul]

Perhaps DougPaul could give us an idea as to the throw distance comparisons of LED headlamps and GPS functionality.

* A GPS would probably be pretty useless. It only works on or near earth. (For instance, the space shuttle uses GPS.)

* You could throw your LED headlamp about 2-3 times as far as you can throw it on earth. (Mars's surface gravity is only ~38% of earth's surface gravity.)

Would an Earth compass actually work on Mars? Seriously, I don't want to buy gear for nothing.

Probably not--Mars magnetic field is only ~.0001 times the field on earth.

Doug

 

[The Hikers]

I have first dibs on the Traihead fees.

 

[Neil]

* A GPS would probably be pretty useless. It only works on or near earth.

Have you tried yours anywhere else?

* You could throw your LED headlamp about 2-3 times as far as you can throw it on earth. (Mars's surface gravity is only ~38% of earth's surface gravity.)

I was referring to the distance that the light beam projects through space and maintains effectiveness. I hypothesize that you surmised that I meant the actual distance that an Earthling could throw his headlamp on Mars compared to the throw distance here on Earth.

 

[DougPaul]

* A GPS would probably be pretty useless. It only works on or near earth.

Have you tried yours anywhere else?

Don't have to. A back-of-the-envelope calculation based upon the relative distance between the satellites and the receivers (on earth vs closest approach of Mars) suggests that the signal will be at least 70db weaker on Mars than on the surface of the earth--far to weak to be detectable by a standard GPS.

You would need to have radio-telescope-sized antennas (eg a 30+ foot parabolic reflector) to receive the signals. It is probably much easier to analyze the doppler shift of signals between the surface and a Mars orbiter--similar to the Transit system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_(satellite) The Mars Rover uses imagery with ~20 meter resolution. (I don't know if it also uses radio-signal-based tracking.)

Perhaps DougPaul could give us an idea as to the throw distance comparisons of LED headlamps

* You could throw your LED headlamp about 2-3 times as far as you can throw it on earth. (Mars's surface gravity is only ~38% of earth's surface gravity.)

I was referring to the distance that the light beam projects through space and maintains effectiveness. I hypothesize that you surmised that I meant the actual distance that an Earthling could throw his headlamp on Mars compared to the throw distance here on Earth.

You asked about the throw distance--I gave you an estimate of the throw distance...

Doug

 

[SteveHiker]

You asked about the throw distance--I gave you an estimate of the throw distance...

Doug

You neglected to take into account the lower air resistance. Although that is likely somewhat offset by the much thicker 'fleece' you'd have to wear giving you less range of motion.

 

[DougPaul]

You neglected to take into account the lower air resistance.

How do you conclude this? I didn't give detailed calculations.

Actually, one of the references said that you would be able to throw an object about twice as far as on earth. I gave a range of 2-3 times which would allow for differences in air resistance. And there are a whole bunch of other factors which neither estimate takes into account. (As you noted, clothing is one.)


Mars_gravity=.38 Earth_gravity
2.63=1/.38
If you assume no air resistance, the projectile is launched at the same speed and angle, and the flight distances are much smaller than the radii of the planets, the flight time will increase by a factor of 2.63 and thus the flight distance will also increase by a factor of 2.63. (This is all beginning physics.)

Doug

 

[Jean]

AFAIK there are no trees on Mars because if there were someone would have posted it on the internet.

No trees would mean no slides either... why would you bother to go then?

 

[DougPaul]

No trees would mean no slides either... why would you bother to go then?

There are plenty of slides here on earth which do not involve trees--they are probably not required on Mars either.

Doug

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

There are plenty of slides here on earth which do not involve trees--they are probably not required on Mars either.

Doug

Agreed; Mars has slides at all different spatial scales. There is some incredible imagery on NASA's website.