An Opportunity...for Opportunity

Photo Credit:  NASA, JPL, MRO

Take a look at this picture.  See the little dot just above the shallow entry into the depression?  That's the Mars Rover known as "Opportunity".  This picture was taken from the newest camera in orbit around Mars, aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter or "MRO".

Photo Credit:  NASA, JPL, MRO

Here's a close-up.  You can actually see the camera mast of Opportunity and its shadow on the surface of Mars.  These pictures signify the greatest event so far in the exploration of Mars.  By working together to study the surface of Mars, these robotic explorers can help us understand the geology and environmental effects that shaped the surface.  Ask any geologist what they do when they explore an area of interest.  The first thing Mr. Geology will do is get out an aerial photo or map to get the big picture of the terrain so he can understand the context better.

Photo Credit:  NASA, JPL, MRO

Once he or she gets the lay of the land it's time to study the rocks and learn their story. 

The pairing of the MRO and Opportunity provides both the context and the close up capabilities that will lay the foundation for some very good science!

The next picture is taken on the rim of Victoria Crater at Cape Verde.  You can see the various exposed sedimentary rock strata. Victoria Crater has more exposed rock and more history in plain sight than any other location visited by Opportunity.   I'm sure there will be discoveries here and much learned about Mars. 

Photo Credit:  NASA, JPL, MER

Comments

[michael]

with all the talk from the conspiracy folk, why cant the newest camera that was sent to mars, or some other camera, go to the moon and get pictures of the moon landing area and the flag that was left there to show that americans really did walk on the moon?/or didnt?

[Gil Tennant]

Well, because conspiracy believers wouldn't believe it. And they'd call it fake, as they have all the other evidence in the past. Do you really think a super power like Russia would have been fooled by all that was presented, if they didn't go. Remember, it was a race to get there, and they would have continued onward, if they thought for one moment it had been faked.