Martian Dunes and the Shadow of Opportunity
Explanation:
Human made robots continue to roll across the surface of Mars.
Both
Opportunity
and its sister
rover Spirit
are in their sixth year
on Mars,
exploring the red planet for years longer than original expectations.
Pictured above is a composite of recent images taken by the
navigation camera on top of the Opportunity rover in
Meridiani Planum.
Visible are
parallel
rover tracks,
rippling
sand dunes,
light-colored
bedrock protrusions,
metallic
rover parts, and the
dark shadow of the
sometimes-artistic robotic photographer.
Currently,
Opportunity is on its way toward huge Endeavor cater, while
Spirit is trying to climb an unusual rock structure known as Home Plate.
If it can survive the harsh martian environment,
Opportunity should arrive at
Endeavor crater in about two years, at which time it may revolutionize human
knowledge of this ancient
martian landform.
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.
