Tag Archives: MER

Opportunity report, Sol 4687, by A.J.S. Rayl, The Planetary Society

Posted on April 4, 2017 by rburnham

April 4, 2017: Opportunity dodges dust storms, makes tracks to Perseverance Valley: After wrapping the final science investigations on the slopes of Cape Tribulation, Opportunity climbed up and over the rim of Endeavour Crater in March and embarked on the … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Descending carefully

Posted on April 3, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4688, April 2, 2017. Opportunity’s Navcams take in a field of view three times wider and taller than its Pancams do. While the Pancams are good for scouting, and the Hazcams cover a few feet immediately in front of … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Coming down from Tribulation

Posted on March 31, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4686, March 31, 2017. Four Pancam “scouting” frames show the vista ahead, after Opportunity rolled 36 meters (120 feet) further to the south, away from the heights of Cape Tribulation. The dark patch at right center is a (geologically) … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Pancam scouting to south & west

Posted on March 29, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4684, March 28, 2017. To evaluate the best route forward, mission controllers directed the Pancam to take filtered images in two directions. Above, is southward, below is to the west. For larger views, click either image; false-color versions by … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Geologically fresh crater

Posted on March 27, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4680, March 24, 2017. A relatively fresh crater from a small meteorite impact lies out on the sands of Meridiani, just west of the Endeavour Crater rim. (False color Pancam  reconstruction by Holger Isenberg.) For a larger version, click … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Rolling southward

Posted on March 24, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4679, March 23, 2017. After Opportunity drove about 30 meters (100 feet) farther south, two Pancam frames scouted the landscape ahead. The bright mesa (dubbed Winnemucca) is a point of interest; while it may simply be covered with bright … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Coming down Cape Tribulation

Posted on March 23, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4678, March 22, 2017. Opportunity’s path is taking it down from the summit of one Endeavour Crater rim segment (Cape Tribulation) as it heads for Perseverance Valley, which is a feature in the next segment, Cape Byron. The Navcam … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Short drive to the south

Posted on March 22, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4677, March 21, 2017. Mission controllers drove Opportunity (in reverse) about 20 meters (about 66 feet) southward, continuing its course toward Perseverance Valley. Above is a three-frame Navcam composite centered on azimuth 180° (due south). The interior of Endeavour … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Pancam snaps the sourroundings

Posted on March 20, 2017 by rburnham

Sols 4672 & 4674, March 16 & 18, 2017. Opportunity has halted on a low ridge to shoot Pancam color frames on the outcrops nearby. Above, a Navcam composite from Sol 4672 looks south, with yellow outlining the general area … Continue reading →

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Opportunity: Rolling southward

Posted on March 15, 2017 by rburnham

Sol 4670, March 14, 2017. With the Pancam continuing its scouting-ahead role, the rover drove 36 meters (117 feet) toward the south and the next target of science interest, Perseverance Valley. Click image (1.3 MB) to enlarge it. Opportunity raw … Continue reading →

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