Monthly Archives: June 2017

Opportunity: Exploring in the channel

Posted on June 30, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4774, June 29, 2017. Opportunity has driven to a location that stands within the shallow channel that leads toward Perseverance Valley. Scientists plan to explore this channel in hopes of determining whether or not it was eroded by flowing … Continue reading →

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Curiosity: Rounding a corner of Vera Rubin Ridge

Posted on June 30, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 1741, June 29, 2017. As Curiosity drives eastward — 12 meters (39 feet) on this sol — it is getting a better look at a portion of Vera Rubin Ridge which was somewhat turned away from the rover’s initial … Continue reading →

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Terraced craters reveal buried ice sheet on Mars

Posted on June 30, 2017 by rburnham

Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Month, June 30, 2017: A.M. Branson (University of Arizona). When an object impacts into layered material, it can form a crater with terraces in the crater’s walls at the layer boundaries, rather than the simple bowl-shape … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Light-toned mounds in Gorgonum Basin

Posted on June 30, 2017 by rburnham

Gorgonum Basin is one of several large basins within the Terra Sirenum region of Mars. Each basin has light-toned mounds, many of which contain clays. Scientists think that Terra Sirenum once had a large lake during an epoch called the … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Southern ice cap layers

Posted on June 30, 2017 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, June 30, 2017. Do you see what I see? Looks like a plank of wood, with a beautiful grain to it. (THEMIS Art #137) More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

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Algorithm helps protect Curiosity’s wheels

Posted on June 29, 2017 by rburnham

There are no mechanics on Mars, so the next best thing for NASA’s Curiosity rover is careful driving. A new algorithm is helping the rover do just that. The software, referred to as traction control, adjusts the speed of Curiosity’s … Continue reading →

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Curiosity update: Cat Sized Island

Posted on June 29, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 1741-43, June 28, 2017, update by MSL scientist Mark Salvatore: Last evening (June 27) between 8pm and 9pm PDT, Curiosity drove approximately 34 meters to the east to position herself just north of a large field of ripples on … Continue reading →

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THEMIS: Northern ice cap’s edge in false color

Posted on June 29, 2017 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, June 19, 2017. Do you see what I see? I’d hang this piece of abstract art on my wall. (THEMIS Art #136) More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.

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HiRISE: Crater floor deposits in Terra Sabaea

Posted on June 29, 2017 by rburnham

Deposits on the floor of a crater in Terra Sabaea. Beautiful Mars series.

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Curiosity: Rocks and sand rise toward the ridge

Posted on June 28, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 1739, June 28, 2017. Curiosity’s Navcam has captured the ground leading up to Vera Rubin Ridge and also Mt. Sharp rising in the distance behind. The rover is driving eastward, perhaps to go around the sand patch seen at … Continue reading →

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