First of all the image is NOT...repeat NOT...'false color'.

I have REPEATED Ron Levin's proccessing of Opportunity's SOL 290 image using the standard MER filters NASA uses for many many of their own TRUE COLOR images...Red-L2 Green-L5 Blue-L7 and I got the same results which can be viewed in hires gif image here:

http://home.thirdage.com/Teaching/rh...290puddles.gif

As for being inside a 'crater' I repeat a portion of what I stated elsewhere:

Portions of the 'level' areas could be like a 'stepped terrace' type of terrain where the top part of the image is higher in elevation than the botttom portion of the image...BUT...in between there could be several 'level' areas with reguards to Mars' center of gravity...THUS...water could FLOW from the upper level ground and spill downward into the level areas until they fill up, making a small puddle, those fill up and spill over.

And we have to remember that the SURFACE temperature HAS been measured as high as 70 degrees farenheit. Also as the whole planet is on a warming trend more H2O is going from the poles into the atmosphere and increasing the air pressure.

The 'blue' MAY indeed be hematite residue...but it is NOT hematite DUST because the higher ROCK portions would HAVE to have it also if this was fine hematite dust kicked up by the wind...the ROCKS are entirely TRUE COLOR GREY...NO BLUE except for the nodules.

Come up with a better 'scientific' explanation folks.

I have CORRECTLY reproduced Levin's image processing. Try it for yourself.

Here are the 3 raw images with proper filters:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2273L2M1.HTML

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2273L5M1.HTML

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2273L7M1.HTML

Bob...
http://www.commonsensecentral.blogspot.com/

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