Comments on: Mars Rock Talks, Opportunity Listens http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/15/mars-rock-talks-opportunity-listens/ Explore science, nature and environment stories from Northern California and beyond with KQED’s multimedia series Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Reality Rocks: Prospecting on Mars | QUEST Community Science Blog - KQED http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/15/mars-rock-talks-opportunity-listens/#comment-12135 Reality Rocks: Prospecting on Mars | QUEST Community Science Blog - KQED Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:31:08 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3334#comment-12135 [...] how long ago the meteorite stopped being exposed to interplanetary radiation—see my earlier blog, Mars Rock Talks, Opportunity Listens, for more on [...] [...] how long ago the meteorite stopped being exposed to interplanetary radiation—see my earlier blog, Mars Rock Talks, Opportunity Listens, for more on [...]

]]> By: Ben Burress http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/15/mars-rock-talks-opportunity-listens/#comment-12134 Ben Burress Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:04:50 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3334#comment-12134 One method is to analyze certain isotopes in the meteorite. When a meteorite is in space, it is bombarded by cosmic rays, which form various isotopes--some of them radioactive. Then, after falling to a planet with an atmosphere, the bombardment ends and no more isotopes are created. Amounts of some isotopes can tell about how long the rock was in space, and the amount of certain radioactive isotopes can tell about how long it has been shielded from bombardment. It's analogous to radiocarbon dating. But, I don't think Opportunity has the capability to analyze the isotope content.... One method is to analyze certain isotopes in the meteorite. When a meteorite is in space, it is bombarded by cosmic rays, which form various isotopes–some of them radioactive. Then, after falling to a planet with an atmosphere, the bombardment ends and no more isotopes are created. Amounts of some isotopes can tell about how long the rock was in space, and the amount of certain radioactive isotopes can tell about how long it has been shielded from bombardment. It's analogous to radiocarbon dating. But, I don't think Opportunity has the capability to analyze the isotope content….

]]> By: Ben Burress http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/15/mars-rock-talks-opportunity-listens/#comment-12133 Ben Burress Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:11:32 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3334#comment-12133 One method is to study the condition of the meteorite's surface for weathering and oxidation. Another way is to analyze the presence of various chemical isotopes that formed when the meteorite was in space and exposed to high energy cosmic rays. By analyzing the proportions of various isotopes, an "exposure time" in space may be estimated. And, by analyzing the proportions of any radioactive isotopes and their decay products, it's possible to estimate how long the meteorite may have rested on Mars (or Earth), shielded from cosmic rays. This is sort of like a meteorite's version of radiocarbon dating performed on organic material. I'm not certain if Opportunity has the capability to do much analysis along these line...so am waiting to hear more from the rover.... One method is to study the condition of the meteorite's surface for weathering and oxidation. Another way is to analyze the presence of various chemical isotopes that formed when the meteorite was in space and exposed to high energy cosmic rays. By analyzing the proportions of various isotopes, an "exposure time" in space may be estimated. And, by analyzing the proportions of any radioactive isotopes and their decay products, it's possible to estimate how long the meteorite may have rested on Mars (or Earth), shielded from cosmic rays. This is sort of like a meteorite's version of radiocarbon dating performed on organic material. I'm not certain if Opportunity has the capability to do much analysis along these line…so am waiting to hear more from the rover….

]]> By: Tamara http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/15/mars-rock-talks-opportunity-listens/#comment-12132 Tamara Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:29:33 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3334#comment-12132 Cool... what are the ways to find out more about how long ago the meteorite fell? Cool… what are the ways to find out more about how long ago the meteorite fell?

]]> By: sandy lundgren http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/08/15/mars-rock-talks-opportunity-listens/#comment-12131 sandy lundgren Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:41:52 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=3334#comment-12131 Last Thursday on deck Leonard had the meteorite on his iPhone already. Way cool. Color scheme of blues and purples noted too, not on his iPhone but Mars Daily likely. Too bad RAT has pooped out. Always pleased to see your quest-notes. Sandy Last Thursday on deck Leonard had the meteorite on his iPhone already. Way cool.
Color scheme of blues and purples noted too, not on his iPhone but Mars Daily likely. Too bad RAT has pooped out.

Always pleased to see your quest-notes.
Sandy

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