What's this thing?

[AstroBrant]

What's that cylindrical thing? I don't think it would be attached to the rover, so it must be sitting in front of it. A hoax nut wants to know. So do I. Any ideas?

[ChrLz]

Is it cylindrical?  Hard to say, and I think we need a good closeup of the rover from that angle to eliminate it being part of it.  From what I can see they only did sample collection at that location (station 11), so perhaps a sample collection container?  I know they had at least two types (one type was padded), but don't know what they looked like.  I'll dig around..

[dougkeenan]

It's the dust-covered fender of the passenger rear wheel.  The beading is visible through the dust.

[ChrLz]

It's the dust-covered fender of the passenger rear wheel.  The beading is visible through the dust.

Ah, yes, of course it is - you can see the other rear wheel behind the astronaut's foot, showing that the rover is parked at an angle, but that fender is partly obscured and in deep shadow.  Well spotted.

[dougkeenan]

It helped to look at the original photo.  That beading is pretty distinctive.

https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a16/AS16-116-18607HR.jpg

[AstroBrant]

It's the dust-covered fender of the passenger rear wheel.  The beading is visible through the dust.

I'll be darned! It sure is.
Good for you,... and nice to make your acquaintance!

[dougkeenan]

Likewise.  

The Owners' Workshop Manual has some good photos that made it clear there wasn't anything in the front - leaving only the back.

Do have fun giving that to the hoaxer.

[Kiwi]

Do have fun giving that to the hoaxer.

And if he examines the wheels closely and claims that they are in an impossible configuration, have fun reminding him that the rover had four-wheel-drive AND four-wheel-steering.

AS16-116-18708 and 18709 show shaded close-ups of that dust on the fenders.
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-116-18708HR.jpg
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-116-18709HR.jpg

AS16-116-18719 has a close-up of the top of the layer of dust.
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-116-18719HR.jpg

Front and back views of one fender and dust in AS16-114-18432 and 18433
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-114-18432HR.jpg
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a16/AS16-114-18433HR.jpg

Could this amount to hitting a tack with a sledgehammer?

[bknight]

It helped to look at the original photo.  That beading is pretty distinctive.

https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a16/AS16-116-18607HR.jpg

I was skeptical until I zoomed in really big and the rather horizontal shape does show the rear fender and some other part of the rover, that from a distance looks like a horizontal object.

[Abaddon]

It helped to look at the original photo.  That beading is pretty distinctive.

https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a16/AS16-116-18607HR.jpg

Good spot.