超级相机在火星的靶子

2021年03月13日

SuperCam Target on Ma’az
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS

Explanation: What’s the sound of one laser zapping? There’s no need to consult a Zen master to find out, just listen to the first acoustic recording of laser shots on Mars. On Perseverance mission sol 12 (March 2) the SuperCam instrument atop the rover’s mast zapped a rock dubbed Ma’az 30 times from a range of about 3.1 meters. Its microphone recorded the soft staccato popping sounds of the rapid series of SuperCam laser zaps. Shockwaves created in the thin martian atmosphere as bits of rock are vaporized by the laser shots make the popping sounds, sounds that offer clues to the physical structure of the target. This SuperCam close-up of the Ma’az target region is 6 centimeters (2.3 inches) across. Ma’az means Mars in the Navajo language.

Tomorrow’s picture: flag day

超级相机在火星的靶子
影像提供: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/CNRS

说明: 用激光轰击会发出什么声音？这不用去咨询禅师，只要倾听火星首次发射激光的声音记录即可。在毅力号任务的第13天（地球历3月2日），火星车桅杆顶端的超级相机，用激光朝3.1公尺之外、名为玛兹（Ma’az）的石块轰了30发。相机的麦克风则录下连续发射的激光，所产生的断断续续爆震声。在激光蒸发石块碎片时，同时在稀薄的火星大气产生的这种爆震波，可为标靶的物理结构提供声学线索。上面这幅影像，是超级相机为宽6公分的玛兹标靶区拍摄之特写。在美洲纳瓦霍人的语言里，玛兹意指火星。

明日的图片: flag day