January 23, 2012
Credits: NASA/JPL/MSSS - Mars Global Surveyor Mission - Credits for the additional process.: Dr Marco Faccin/Lunar Explorer Italia/IPF
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The most "famous" Monolith in the History of Manking (as far as the Science-Fictional Literature is concerned) is, without any doubt whatsoever, the one created by the brilliant mind of the British novel writer, Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (Minehead, Dec., 16th, 1917 - Colombo, March, 19th, 2008). The meaning of the Monolith (mentioned, for the first time, in the legendary Arthur C. Clarke's novel "2001: A Space Odyssey") cannot be described nor defined here, but one thing we can say: the Monolith created by Arthur Clarke's genius was PERFECT.Its Proportions, for instance (1 x 4 x 9, such as the squares of the first three numbers), have a Mathematical and Philosophical value that goes beyond our Imagination, as well as beyond our Human Capacity to understand. Its Surface was smoother than silk. Its Purpose...unknown. The Author suggested that it was a "Door", some sort of a a "Gateway" from this Universe to another one or, most likely, from one Region of our Universe, to another, far more distant than our Mind and Science can even guess. Who knows...But, in the end, that was a novel! And so, what have we got here? Here, instead, we have something - a "Columnar" Surface Feature - certainly, and at first sight, quite intriguing, that many people (mostly Amateur Researchers and, strange but true, one VERY famous former American Astronaut: "Buzz" Aldrin"!) thought it could be the evidence of something - let's say... - very "exotic". A "construction" of some kind, conceptually similar to a "Menhir" maybe. Many "Space-Fans" pushed this idea up to the point that they said (and wrote!) that this "Columnar Surface Feature" could have been the proof of an extraterrestrial presence on the Martian Moon Phobos. Well, we love "2001 - A Space Odyssey" and, in general, we like Science-Fiction very much! And, yes: we love to imagine things! But we are also Professional Researchers and Divulgers who, before and in front of our own (even the deepest and most personal) ideas and beliefs, must ALWAYS put something which is as much BASIC as it is, sometimes, very disappointing: something we call FACTS. It took time to process the best available images of the "Phobos' Monolith" (that is the way this columnar-like structure has been defined by the Public) and, when the processing work ended, we found a more than plausible explanation for it. Unfortunately, it is NOT a "Monolith", even though, in a picture with poor resolution and, furthermore, taken from a great distance, it might look like one. Its Proportions are NOT perfect at all, and its Surface its all but smooth. Ok then: and so? What is it? Well, our informed opinion is that this (however somehow fascinating) Surface Feature that we are all looking at, is just a Rocky Outcrop or, more likely, an unusually-looking Erratic Boulder, whose shape can vaguely remind of an irregular triangle. A "trianle" that shows a dark diagonal crack near its base and another fracture at about half of its height, better visible on the left side. The upper portion of the Boulder, then, shows clear irregularities (a "bump" can be easily seen on its upper left corner), while other minor (but still perfectly visible) irregularities can be identified all over it. Its Albedo, however, tells us that it is very likely made by a rocky material that is strongly different from what we can see in its surroundings, an this FACT, in our humble opinion, is the "real" (and the only) anomalous aspect of such a Surface Feature. And once we have taken into account its high Albedo, in fact, we can also think that this Surface Feature could also be an Ejecta Boulder, such as a fragment of Phobos coming, after the occurrence of a powerful Meteor Strike, from some other (and even distant) place of Phobos itself! This is what we, as the IPF, honestly and professionally believe as far as this subject is concerned. Of course we know (we know it VERY well!...) that those among you who "Want to Believe" that this Surface Feature is something MORE than a bizarre piece of rock, shall keep believing it (no matter what we can say or write), and this is fine with us. But our honest advice (or suggestion, if you like) in order to avoid deep and heavy disappointments (or, sometimes, to look like complete fools), is to be and to remain ALWAYS rational and pragmatic. Is there Intelligent Life "Out There"? Well, nobody knows for sure, but it is MORE than likely! And can this "Monolith" be considered as one proof of it? Well, no. Unfortunately (and absolutely) not. It is just a rock, with an unusual shape and a high Albedo: no more, no less. Sorry! But tomorrow is another day, and the search will go on, and on, and on... |
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