An Ode to Clarke and Asimov – The Giant ‘Asimov Monolith’ on Mars
A Saturn Ark and RaptorZone Collaboration
Saturn Ark may have discovered what might be a witty Ode to both Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov in Asimov Crater.
This is a collaborative work between Saturn Ark and RaptorZone in which evidence supporting this speculation is presented.
This photograph (ESP_012411_1320) was taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) HiRISE Camera on 20 March 2009.
NASA describes this photograph as “Cascading Channel in Noachis Pit Crater in MOC M12-00595.”
Discovered is what looks like a huge ancient, eroded and damaged Monolith-type object in Asimov Crater and an extensive debris field.
Could the naming of Asimov Crater be a witty Ode to both Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov?
It is well known that there was a witty rivalry between Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, both undisputed masters of science fiction in the 20th century.
Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov
“Clarke chose to ratify the treaty in the dedication to his essay collection Report on Planet Three and Other Speculations, a wry encapsulation of his witty war with his fellow titan of the genre: In accordance with the terms of the Clarke-Asimov treaty, the second-best science writer dedicates this book to the second-best science-fiction writer.” Barnes & Noble
“Asimov Crater is an impact crater in the Noachis quadrangle of Mars, located at 47.0° S and 355.05° W. It is 84.0 km in diameter and was named after Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), an American biochemist and writer. The name was officially adopted on May 4, 2009.” Wikipedia
On 20 March 2009 NASA’s HiRISE photographed a Monolith-type object which Clarke wrote about in his 2001: A Space Odyssey and the craters name, Asimov Crater, was officially adopted on 04 May 2009, almost two months later.
Huge Eroded Monolith in Asimov Crater – Approximately 33 metres wide and approximately 75 metres tall (click for larger image)
All Clarke’s monoliths are rectangular with dimensions in the ratio of 1 : 4 : 9 (the squares of the first three positive integers, i.e. 1² : 2² : 3²). The Monolith-type object on Mars measure approximately 33 metres by 75 metres, which yields an aspect ratio of 2.27 whereas the aspect ration of Clarke’s Monoliths are 2.25 (9 divided by 4). The exact measurements are difficult to obtain as the Monolith is damaged and somewhat buried.
Could it be that NASA named this Asimov Crater to poke fun at Clarke and Asimov? The two authors would probably see the humor in it. Furthermore, could Clarke have had insider information about the Monolith-type object on Mars before we wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey?
Pure speculation as always, these anomalies look like something unnatural and are not specifically something unnatural.
Other Anomalies and Artefacts found in Asimov Crater:
Pieces of sculptures, statues or structures:
Three geometric pieces of a sculpture, structure or statue and features or perhaps symbols with straight lines, right angles, semi-circles, flat sides (click for larger image)Piece from a sculpture or statue, to the left a flat, square shape and to the right a sculpted shape with semi-circles, straight lines, right angles and perhaps symbols. Looks almost like a square table top and sculptured base (click for larger image)Piece from a sculpture or statue or even machinery with a row of smaller, block-like features spaced uniformly apart (click for larger image)Piece from a sculpture or statue or even machinery seemingly covered in symbols or smaller parts, perhaps even small pipes (click for larger image)Triangular-shaped object, it looks like the one corner has been bent over (click for larger image)Rectangular object with a square opening (click for larger image)Various pieces of a destroyed structure, the piece to to left has two smaller features in the middle of the one side and the piece to the bottom right has small circular features on it (click for larger image)Rectangular-shaped slabs possibly from a destroyed structure, the bottom slab seems to have a circular symbol in the center (click for larger image)Rectangular-shaped block with small symbols or features on the one side (click for larger image)Triangular-shaped object with two flange-type features on either side (click for larger image)Rectangular object with a triangular piece with extended narrow feature on top. The bottom object has a square opening and what look like pipes coming out (click for larger image)Rectangular-shaped object with two small dome-like features spaced uniformly on top (click for larger image)Object consisting of a rectangular and triangular piece, smaller features are visible on the side (click for larger image)Hexagonal-type object with smaller, brighter triangular features on top (click for larger image)Conical-shaped object with bright, smaller symbols or features (click for larger image)Smashed object with triangular feature on the side (click for larger image)Rectangular block with small symbols, of interest is the row of small squares in the middle top part of the object (click for larger image)The object to the left has strange circular symbols or features on its surface (click for larger image)This object looks folded or rolled in some way with two triangular features on top (click for larger image)The object looks like a normal rock until you notice the smaller features to the bottom and left side (click for larger image)Part of a sculpture or statue, small circular, conical features cover the left side (click for larger image)This block has a long narrow part running diagonally across the face (click for larger image)This object may be part of a statue of sculpture, it looks like an artists impression of an out-board motor boat engine as see from the side with the motor on the top of the object (click for larger image)Rectangular megalithic-type block with right-angled feature cut into the one corner (click for larger image)Almost normal looking rocks, except for the small pipe sticking out to object at the top, there is also an object with parallel lines to the left of the bottom object (click for larger image)Eroded block with small triangular feature on top (click for larger image)Pyramidal-shaped block (click for larger image)Mangled machinery with thin pipes and a cylinder to the right, smaller parts are strewn about towards the bottom of the object (click for larger image)Part of a statue or sculpture, the two really flat, rectangular features located at the top left of the object are striking (click for larger image)
Objects with smaller features in their centers:
Object with smaller feature positioned in the center (click for larger image)Object with smaller feature positioned in the center (click for larger image)Object with smaller feature positioned in the center (click for larger image)Object with smaller feature positioned in the center (click for larger image)Object with smaller feature positioned in the center (click for larger image)Object with smaller feature positioned in the center (click for larger image)
Crashed craft:
Small circular-type craft with four symmetrical sides (click for larger image)Partially buried disc-like craft and triangular feature with what may be two windows (click for larger image)
Destroyed technology:
Curved rectangular-object with smaller parts, perhaps pipes, on the side (click for larger image)Machine with pipes sticking out to the bottom right (click for larger image)Machine with ripped open side, long rectangular piece extending outward on the bottom left (click for larger image)
I downloaded the HiRise B&W Map-Projected JP2 file’s to view these anomalies.
