[meteorite-list] Dark Shadows on Mars: Scene from Durable NASA Rover

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2012 13:15:55 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201205232015.q4NKFtKb006513_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-143

Dark Shadows on Mars: Scene from Durable NASA Rover
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
May 22, 2012

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).

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute
of Technology, in Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover Project
for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

Guy Webster 818-354-6278
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
guy.webster at jpl.nasa.gov

2012-143
Received on Wed 23 May 2012 04:15:55 PM PDT