Mars Lander Instrument Waving In the Martian Wind

Matt_dk writes "This series of images show Phoenix's telltale instrument waving in the Martian wind. Documenting the telltale's movement helps mission scientists and engineers determine what the wind is like on Mars. On the day these images were taken, one of the images seemed to be 'out-of-phase' with other images, possibly indicating a dust devil occurrence."

[...]one of the images seemed to be "out-of-phase"

[snowraver1]

What they are witnessing is the Flying Spaghetti Monster manipulating the results.

Great choice of words.

[Anonymous Coward]

Insert joke here about my "telltale instrument" waiving in the wind.

Proof

[HalAtWork]

"On the day these images were taken, one of the images seemed to be "out-of-phase" with other images, possibly indicating a dust devil occurrence"

OR... it's proof that these martian landings are staged and never really occurred in the first place!

Late Breaking News from the Council

[Tackhead]

The most Illustrious Council of Elders has decried this latest humiliation inflicted upon its noble citizens by the latest mechanical invader from the blue planet. K'breel, speaker for the Council, stressed that this most recent insult would not be taken lightly:

Gentle Citizens, today my gelsacs are engorged in anticipation of the impending demise of the mechanized monsters of the blue planet. One hundred and thirty six days have passed since their latest mechanical terror has landed, and this -- this futile mocking gesture, such a pale imitation of our species' noble and pendulous glory -- is all it has come up with. Citizens, the creatures from the blue planet are so weak that they can barely muster up the strength to mock us. Winter approaches, and with it, darkness. Rejoice, podmates, for our final final victory against their pathetic mocking contraptions shall come at last!

When a small group of younglings questioned whether the telltale waving of the enemy's instrument was perhaps due to a gust of wind, K'Breel ordered their gelsacs pierced on the spot.

Re:Great choice of words.

[dgatwood]

See that's why girls don't come here....

Sheesh. Insensitive....

With apologies to Bob Dylan

[zapakh]

How many landers must we see touch down
Before you can send one that's manned?
Yes, and how many times must you scoop the soil
Before you get some in the pan?
Yes, and how many sols must the dust storms fly
Before there's ice on polar land?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Re:Great choice of words.

[Anonymous Coward]

What's wrong with having long hair?

"Instrument" . . .

[StefanJ]

. . . so that's what the kids are calling it these days.

I got in big trouble for waving my instrument in the wind.

Of course, with a string bass, swinging it on a dead calm day would be just as bad.