Explained: "Lizard Found on Mars Rover" [Dust Removal Tool]

[Mick West]

An an amusing example of pareidolia, a youtube poster claimed to have spotted a lizard jumping onto the Mars Curiosity Rover

In fact what he has seen is the dust removal tool on the MAHLI

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camera_on_Curiosity's_Robotic_Arm.jpg

It's not there in later photos because the tool rotates at the end of the arm for different functions - drilling, dust removal, analysis, camera.

Curiosity Raw Images:
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/

This image is from the Right NavCam Sol 1640
https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?s=1640&camera=NAV_RIGHT_

 

[Cord]

Last night, I posted a link to this page on the 'lizard' YT video page. Today my comment is gone, and no comments are allowed... The truth hurts.

 

[Hevach]

Ive come back to this a few times now and I just can't see a lizard.

 

[Mick West]

Ive come back to this a few times now and I just can't see a lizard.

It's one of those priming things.

 

[Admiral Biscuit]

It's one of those priming things.

View attachment 26183

View attachment 26184

#marsroverhedgehog

 

[Hevach]

Now, I totally see a hedgehog.

 

[Trailblazer]

Now, I totally see a hedgehog.

Unfortunately, Mission Control didn't.

 

[Whitebeard]

Unfortunately, Mission Control didn't.

View attachment 26222

BEST. POST. EVER.

 

[NoParty]

I think our Australian friends would quickly point out that it's probably an Echidna.