# astronomy types help please.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 29, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000 "2007-05-29T23:27:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000/1 "2007-05-29T23:27:38Z")

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> **[APOD: 2007 May 28 - A Hole in Mars](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070528.html?happymarsorialday)**
>
> A different astronomy and space science
> related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation.

I get NASA pictures on my computer everday. They show beautiful pictures of our amazing universe. Then I got this one. What is it?  
I looked on the internets and there are 7 of them. Please explain them away.

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000/2 "2007-05-29T23:34:19Z")

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What’s to explain? As the linked article in your link says, they’re so-called “skylight” openings into subterranean void spaces under the surface of Martian volcanoes. What surprises you?

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**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000/3 "2007-05-29T23:34:36Z")

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[This page](http://telicthoughts.com/hole-in-mars/) shows an enhanced photo.

Oh, okay, try [this page](http://hiroc.lpl.arizona.edu/images/PSP/diafotizo.php?ID=PSP_003647_1745) then.

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**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000/4 "2007-05-30T01:25:18Z")

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How long have they been known.? I have seen no pictures of them before. Can they send a Rover over there.?

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-types-help-please/406000/5 "2007-05-30T01:50:23Z")

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[QUOTE=gonzomax]  
How long have they been known.? I have seen no pictures of them before.  
[/QUOTE]

The [Viking orbiters](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1975-075A) got some shots of lava tube skylights at Olympus Mons back in 1976 or 77.  
There’s a picture and some discussion [here](http://chapters.marssociety.org/or/msorlt01.html). Those pictures, and the skylights themselves aren’t nearly as pretty as the holes shot by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

> [@](#):
>
> Can they send a Rover over there.?

In somewhat over three years, Opportunity has traveled about 10.8 kilometers. Olympus Mons and Arsia Mons are thousands of kilometers from the rover sites.