Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. GPS News .




MARSDAILY
Dark Shadows on Mars
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (SPX) May 24, 2012


NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity catches its own late-afternoon shadow in this dramatically lit view eastward across Endeavour Crater on Mars. The rover used the panoramic camera (Pancam) between about 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. local Mars time to record images taken through different filters and combined into this mosaic view. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/Arizona State Univ.

Like a tourist waiting for just the right lighting to snap a favorite shot during a stay at the Grand Canyon, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has used a low sun angle for a memorable view of a large Martian crater.

The resulting view catches a shadow of the rover in the foreground and the giant basin in the distance. Opportunity is perched on the western rim of Endeavour Crater looking eastward. The crater spans about 14 miles (22 kilometers) in diameter.

Opportunity has been studying the edge of Endeavour Crater since arriving there in August 2011.

The scene is presented in false color to emphasize differences in materials such as dark dunes on the crater floor. This gives portions of the image an aqua tint.

Opportunity took most of the component images on March 9, 2012, while the solar-powered rover was spending several weeks at one location to preserve energy during the Martian winter. It has since resumed driving and is currently investigating a patch of windblown Martian dust near its winter haven.

Opportunity and its rover twin, Spirit, completed their three-month prime missions on Mars in April 2004. Both rovers continued for years of bonus, extended missions.

Both have made important discoveries about wet environments on ancient Mars that may have been favorable for supporting microbial life.

Spirit stopped communicating in 2010. Since landing in the Meridiani region of Mars in January 2004, Opportunity has driven 21.4 miles (34.4 kilometers).

.


Related Links
Mars Rovers at JPL
Mars Rovers at Cornell
Mars at JPL
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








MARSDAILY
Mars Opportunity Rover Is A Go For More Travel
Pasadena CA (JPL) May 14, 2012
After being stationary for 130 sols during the winter, Opportunity has resumed driving again. On Sol 2947 (May 8, 2012), the rover performed a 12-foot (3.7-meter) drive down from her winter perch, called "Greeley Haven." As expected, the rover's northerly tilt decrease from around 15 degrees down to about 8 degrees. All wheel currents, including the right-front wheel, were nominal. W ... read more


MARSDAILY
Blossom end rot plummets in Purdue-developed transgenic tomato

Where bees are, there will be honey even pre-historic

Financial tool considered climate change uncertainty to select land for conservation

How plants chill out

MARSDAILY
New silicon memory chip developed

Return of the vacuum tube

Performance boost for microchips

Quantum computing: The light at the end of the tunnel may be a single photon

MARSDAILY
French leader's Brazil visit could hasten decision on jets

China criticises US vote on Taiwan fighter jet sales

Peru to upgrade fast aging air force jets

Military aviation: a new bomber and the fifth generation fighter planes

MARSDAILY
Toyota overtakes GM, regains number one spot

Calif. passes 'self-driving' cars bill

Tesla to launch electric sedan in US on June 22

Tilting Cars On The Assembly Line: A New Angle On Protecting Autoworkers

MARSDAILY
Rio Tinto chief dismisses China 'doom'

Asian casinos fight world's best cheats: experts

Rebels threaten TVI mines in Philippines

Jeweller Graff launches Hong Kong IPO roadshow

MARSDAILY
Cambodian forest campaigners fight rampant logging

Brazil fights illegal logging to protect Amazon natives

UF study finds logging of tropical forests needn't devastate environment

Brazil's threatened Awa tribe outnumbered, group says

MARSDAILY
City's population is counted from space

Unparalleled Views of Earth's Coast With HREP-HICO

Moscow court upholds ban against satellite image distributor

New Carbon-Counting Instrument Leaves the Nest

MARSDAILY
Sensing the infrared: Researchers improve IR detectors with single-walled carbon nanotubes

Quantum dots appear safe in pioneering study on primates

New technique uses electrons to map nanoparticle atomic structures

Light touch keeps a grip on delicate nanoparticles




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement