Panorama
of Crater Interior
(available as wallpaper)
The interior of a crater surrounding
the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity at Meridiani Planum on
Mars can be seen in this color image from the rover's panoramic
camera. This is the darkest landing site ever visited by a spacecraft
on Mars. The rim of the crater is approximately 10 meters (32
feet) from the rover. The crater is estimated to be 20 meters
(65 feet) in diameter. Scientists are intrigued by the abundance
of rock outcrops dispersed throughout the crater, as well as the
crater's soil, which appears to be a mixture of coarse gray grains
and fine reddish grains.
Data taken from the camera's
near-infrared, green and blue filters were combined to create
this approximate true color picture, taken on the first day of
Opportunity's journey. The view is to the west-southwest of the
rover.
A smaller version of
this photo was included in the article: Opportunity
Runs Tests - January 26, 2004
