Notes from the Ocean

Photo JPL: This panorama, taken on Feb. 20, 2021, by the Navigation Cameras, or Navcams, aboard NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, was stitched together from six individual images after they were sent back to Earth.

MARS MARVELS: NASA continues to release still images, video, and even audio from the Perseverance rover landing last week.

There are three or so minutes of video that is absolutely stunning of the rover descending toward the Red Planet. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/4czjS9h4Fpg

Below is the embed code for the video Once upon a time, this used to work on blogger. I'm hoping some day they fix that feature. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4czjS9h4Fpg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

While watching the video, I couldn't help but wonder about the pattern on the parachute. I figured it had to mean something and it wasn't just random. Turns out there is a code stitched into that fabric. 

JPL explains, "Using binary code, two messages have been encoded in the neutral white and international-orange parachute gores (the sections that make up the canopy's hemispherical shape). The inner portion spells out "DARE MIGHTY THINGS," with each word located on its own ring of gores. The outer band of the canopy provides GPS coordinates for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the rover was built and the project is managed."

                        PHOTO: JPL

Humanity now has the first ever audio recording beamed back from Mars. If you go to this page on NASA's site, https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-mars-perseverance-rover-provides-front-row-seat-to-landing-first-audio , you can listen to the audio both with the rover's noise and with the rover's sounds filtered out. Turn up your speakers, because Mars is pretty darn quiet at least at Jerero Crater. 

ELKS CLUB: The last couple of days our neighbors have included a sizeble herd of elk. They have been just across the street from us to the east, out on the beach in front of us, to the west, and they were even roaming the golf course when we stopped at McMenamins (outside, of course) for some happy hour Cajun tots.

Here they are on the side of our road. This shot was taken with my cell phone, no zoom used.

The elk were enjoying leisurely grazing on the greens at the golf course. There's a group in the middle, but look at all the dots on the hillside above them. Those are all elk.

Eventually the golf course greenskeepers tried to (gently) coax the elk to go elsewhere.

PUZZLED: For the past couple of days, this Springbok 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle has commanded some of our attention.

Per the box, every piece is a different shape. It was easy goings for the first 50 percent, but the last half was a real slog.

PORTHOLE: I really love the view out of this little porthole window in a bathroom upstairs.