Intriguing Dimples Near Eagle Crater on Mars
Explanation:
What are those unusual looking dimples?
Looking back toward
Eagle crater, its landing place on
Mars, the
robot rover Opportunity
has spotted some unusual depressions in the Martian soil.
The dimples,
visible above on the image left,
each measure about one meter across and appear to have
light colored rock in their interior.
The nearest dimple has been dubbed
"
Homeplate",
while the next furthest one out is called "First Base."
Scrolling right will reveal a
magnificent panorama including the rover in the foreground, the
backshell and parachute that detached from Opportunity
before it landed near the horizon, Eagle crater in the center,
Opportunity's tracks as it rolled away from Eagle crater, and
wind blown ripples of
Martian soil in every direction.
Further analysis of
rocks photographed by Opportunity has
yielded evidence that Opportunity has landed on an
evaporated shoreline of an ancient salt-water ocean.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
