WP: Mars Rover Opportunity's Panoramas of Martian Crater Thrill Scientists

[DeepModem Mom]

Opportunity's Panoramas of Martian Crater Thrill Scientists
By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 7, 2006; Page A11


After a 21-month journey, NASA's Mars rover Opportunity sends back its first clear images of a large Martian crater. Scientists believe the images will provide a tremendous amount of information about the history and nature of the planet.

The Mars rover Opportunity yesterday sent back its first color panorama of the large Martian crater it reached last week after a 21-month trek, and NASA scientists could barely contain their excitement about what they saw.

The dramatic pictures of sharp rock faces marked the beginning of an exploration that NASA scientists believe will be among the most fruitful ever in learning about the history of Mars. Victoria Crater, where Opportunity is now poised, is five times the size of any of the craters the rovers had previously visited -- more than half a mile wide and up to 200 feet deep.

At a news briefing yesterday, rover scientist James F. Bell III of Cornell University said: "It's like going to the Grand Canyon and seeing what you can from several different overlooks before you walk down. What we see so far just adds to the excitement."

The depth of the crater excites Mars scientists because the many visible layers of exposed rock are likely to yield new insights into the planet's past, especially when it may have had liquid water.

The Mars robot Opportunity and its twin Spirit landed on Mars in early 2004 and were expected to last about 90 days. More than 900 days later, Opportunity is now sending back the most dramatic images of its voyage....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100600659.html

[bronxiteforever]

1. Its great to see real space exploration in the news

but you know I can't help thinking if we spent some of the Iraq money on science and the rest on people's needs (instead of shrubs' wars) how much more we could be doing. The pictures are spectacular!

[Straight Shooter]

2. This photo was on the front page of the Oregonian today.

They devoted a lot of space to it. No pun intended. :7

[IntravenousDemilo]

3. How long till someone sees the face of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in there?

A week? Two, tops?

[happydreams]

5. I see a nuke crater

:nuke: :scared: :hide:

[Ian David]

7. Sooner. Bush just appointed Richard Hoagland as head of NASA Imaging

Heh heh...

I'm kidding.

[whistle]

4. Thanks

[Jose Diablo]

6. Gosh, that looks like a dry lake bed

Look how steep the walls are. Strange, I'd have thought the wind would have wore the walls down to a more gentle slope. That's a strange geological formation. I wonder about it's past.