4 ms·

tldr; With enough rocks thrown around, you'll get a few that look crafted.

mjevans 9y ago
This might be true, however it's probably still worth at least trying to get some (unmanned) telemetry to better measure the location so that we can evaluate hypothesis or determine if additional study is warranted.
- icanhackit 9y ago
  > it's probably still worth at least trying to get some (unmanned) telemetry Of course. What I implied was that it wasn't worth losing sleep over, as these types of formations often do e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydonia_(region_of_Mars) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydonia_(region_of_Mars)
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
rflrob 9y ago
Not just thrown around though—you can get crafted looking things through natural geothermal processes (which probably are no longer happening on Phobos); columnar basalt is one of my favorite examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt#Columnar_basalt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt#Columnar_basalt (If you live in California, Devils Postpile is worth a side trip from Yosemite).
johansch 9y ago
tldr; with enough random keystrokes you'll get something resembling "tldr; With enough rocks thrown around, you'll get a few that look crafted."
- icanhackit 9y ago
  The comment was to save anyone speculating, based on the title, that it might be a mysterious discovery. It's not - it's a remnant of billions of years of collisions and geological activity.
  - johansch 9y ago
    I guess you didn't get my snark, but sure, it was a bit obtuse. :) Don't you think you're a bit overly certain that it's caused by random geological activity? How do you know that?
    - icanhackit 9y ago
      > I guess you didn't get my snark I get the point that with enough time the emanations of an internet gnome like me and my comment above could be reproduced by a simple program sampling every letter and character combination, thus making my original point seemingly contradictory because I am a sentient being and the comment was the result of intent. But... > you're a bit overly certain that it's caused by random geological activity The article explained why we think it's the process of geological activity/solar bombardment and I was saving any readers who were baited into thinking it might be something grander than that. I'm totally open to the idea of intelligent space-faring life in the cosmos, in fact I hope it's the case, but I was preparing readers expectations for the content of the article.
    - SmellyGeekBoy 9y ago
      Occam's razor?
13of40 9y ago
Just look at all the places named "Castle Rock"...

This might be true, however it's probably still worth at least trying to get some (unmanned) telemetry to better measure the location so that we can evaluate hypothesis or determine if additional study is warranted.

icanhackit 9y ago
> it's probably still worth at least trying to get some (unmanned) telemetry Of course. What I implied was that it wasn't worth losing sleep over, as these types of formations often do e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydonia_(region_of_Mars) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydonia_(region_of_Mars)
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

rflrob 9y ago

Not just thrown around though—you can get crafted looking things through natural geothermal processes (which probably are no longer happening on Phobos); columnar basalt is one of my favorite examples https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt#Columnar_basalt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt#Columnar_basalt (If you live in California, Devils Postpile is worth a side trip from Yosemite).

johansch 9y ago

tldr; with enough random keystrokes you'll get something resembling "tldr; With enough rocks thrown around, you'll get a few that look crafted."

icanhackit 9y ago
The comment was to save anyone speculating, based on the title, that it might be a mysterious discovery. It's not - it's a remnant of billions of years of collisions and geological activity.
- johansch 9y ago
  I guess you didn't get my snark, but sure, it was a bit obtuse. :) Don't you think you're a bit overly certain that it's caused by random geological activity? How do you know that?
  - icanhackit 9y ago
    > I guess you didn't get my snark I get the point that with enough time the emanations of an internet gnome like me and my comment above could be reproduced by a simple program sampling every letter and character combination, thus making my original point seemingly contradictory because I am a sentient being and the comment was the result of intent. But... > you're a bit overly certain that it's caused by random geological activity The article explained why we think it's the process of geological activity/solar bombardment and I was saving any readers who were baited into thinking it might be something grander than that. I'm totally open to the idea of intelligent space-faring life in the cosmos, in fact I hope it's the case, but I was preparing readers expectations for the content of the article.
  - SmellyGeekBoy 9y ago
    Occam's razor?

13of40 9y ago

Just look at all the places named "Castle Rock"...