THEMIS Image of the Day, July 11, 2017. Today’s false color image shows part of Newton Crater in Terra Sirenum.
The THEMIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image.
More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.
Sol 4782, July 7, 2017. As the time for the solar-conjunction stand down approaches, Opportunity rolled a little deeper into Perseverance Valley, and its Navcam shot a three-frame pan looking southeast (above).
Note the shallow intersecting channels visible at left beyond the small circular feature, which is possibly a little impact crater. The channels led scientists to think that the valley was carved by flowing water. Below is another Navcam composite showing a mostly buried outcrop of rock close to the rover. (Click either image to enlarge it.)
Opportunity raw images, its latest mission status, location map, and atmospheric opacity, known as tau.
Sol 1751, July 10, 2017. After kicking a sand ripple, Curiosity continued its track around the sandy patch, heading for a place where it can easily drive up onto Vera Rubin Ridge. (Click image to enlarge it.)
Sol 1751 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location.
Sol 4782, July 7, 2017; Rover Field Report by Larry Crumpler, MER Science Team & New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science: With the latest drive on sol 4782, Opportunity began the long drive down the floor of Perseverance Valley here on Endeavour crater. This is rather historic in that it represents the first time that a rover has driven down an apparent water-cut valley on Mars. Over the next few months Opportunity will explore the floor and sides of the valley for evidence of the scale and timing of the fluvial activity, if that is what is represents.
First there is the little matter of solar conjunction in a couple of weeks. Opportunity needs to be parked in a good, secure spot for the two weeks that mission operations must stand down while Mars is behind the Sun. This current location will likely be the position during that stand down period. Opportunity achieved a good 10 degree northerly tilt, so this should be power-friendly. [More at link]
Sol 1748-52, July 7, 2017, update by MSL scientist Michael Battalio: Curiosity has intentionally scuffed a nearby sand ripple, which has gifted the team with an exceptional view of the interior of these small sand deposits. The majority of the weekend’s activities will consist of lots of targeted science on the scuff, as there is no nearby bedrock for Curiosity to observe. This is in contrast to the past week where quick documentation of local changes in stratigraphy of the bedrock as we drive closer to Vera Rubin Ridge was the priority.
Several targets were selected for observations around the scuff including the undisturbed ripple crest that is grayer with coarse grains, “Enchanted Island,” the undisturbed ripple side that is redder and finer-grained, “Thomas Little Toes,” and the wall of the scuff that cuts through the ripple, “Ile Damour.” These… [More at link]
THEMIS Image of the Day, July 10, 2017. Today’s false color image shows part of Coprates Chasma.
The THEMIS camera contains 5 filters. The data from different filters can be combined in multiple ways to create a false color image. These false color images may reveal subtle variations of the surface not easily identified in a single band image.
More THEMIS Images of the Day by geological topic.
Sol 1748, July 7, 2017. Curiosity rolled one wheel across a sand ripple, as scientists sought to see what its interior structure might be (above). At right, the views from the front and rear Hazcams. (Click any image to enlarge it.)
Sol 1748 raw images (from all cameras), and Curiosity’s latest location.
Sol 4781, July 6, 2017. A drive of 13.2 meters (43 feet) to the east brought Opportunity over the lip of Perseverance Valley. This let the Navcam capture three frames looking downslope toward the Endeavour Crater floor in the distance. Note the small crater in the center foreground.
Due to operational constraints, the images had to be taken when sunlight wasn’t ideal for revealing surface features. (Click image to enlarge it.)
Opportunity raw images, its latest mission status, location map, and atmospheric opacity, known as tau.
Sol 1748, July 6, 2017, update by MSL scientist Ken Herkenhoff: Another touch-and-go was strategically planned for today, and there is bedrock in the arm workspace, so the tactical science team selected a block named “Tupper Ledge” for contact science. After APXS measures the elemental chemistry of Tupper Ledge and MAHLI takes a full suite of images of the same target, the arm will be stowed to allow ChemCam and Right Mastcam observations of a soil target called “No Mans Land” and a bedrock target dubbed “Sugar Loaves.” Navcam will search for clouds above the horizon and the Right Mastcam will snap a couple pictures of “Harris,” a trough in the dark sand… [More at link]
