posted 10-09-2005 11:52 AM               

Keep 'em coming, Rover and Discovery.

posted 10-28-2005 11:24 AM            

Can't make my mind up whether its solar reflection onto the ground or whether its a small piece of the white bedrock? JPL captions don't give any clues.

It changes shape between images so think it may be a reflection?

Have wait see what JPL say?

posted 10-29-2005 11:22 AM            

I was hoping they may have had a few more images on the site but not yet. Nor any further text updates on the Mars Rover home site that give sol-by-sol accounts.

I'll give Mars and the two MER's a little wave tonight as Mars comes closest to Earth for many a year. If it keeps fine and clear
but it's not looking good for later.

Phill
spaceuk

posted 11-01-2005 04:17 AM               

Opportunity is going around Erebus as we speak...

posted 11-23-2005 05:20 PM               

More 'Special Effect' images can be found here.

posted 12-03-2005 04:08 PM            

Use the NASA/JPL raw images site to look for the pics.

posted 12-03-2005 04:29 PM            

Have a look at the images at this link, especially for the ones on Mars sol 615-621
when Opportunity was on the 'rim' of Erebus at that time.

posted 12-03-2005 04:47 PM            

Earlier when I noted Opportunity had 'moved on' past Erebus I meant that it moved on from its sol 615-621 position - which was in a small inlet of Erebus.

It is still on the rim of Erebus which is 300 metres across.

posted 12-06-2005 11:15 AM               

They do a good job at posting the newest goodies up there. There are a few new color images from Mars that just showed up the other day.

posted 12-07-2005 07:17 AM            

Erebus wall rims are pretty "shallow" (see image above) and tend to not much different from the many dunes we've seen in last few months at Opportunity site. So, its difficult (without JPL navigation data) to just 'spot' what's a crater and what's a dune.

Still, I hope you have by now seen part of Erebus.

Spotting signs of Mars life by its tracks or fossils is even harder.

posted 12-10-2005 01:53 PM            

Croak

posted 12-17-2005 11:49 AM            

The MER is still on the rim of Erebus - where a lot of geology can still be learned.

They have had several technical problems while in this general area over last dozen or so sols - as you are probably aware of - such as the sticking robotic arm, wheel slippage and software resets.

Whether they decide to drive down into Erebus crater floor I suppose we'll have to wait and see. Certainly they will have to weigh pros-and-cons of undertaking this - such as what are carter slopes like, are they deep and suty slopes, what benefits would be gained by exploring floor (as opposed to distant imaging) etcetera.

Whatever happens, this MER - and its twin MER, Spirit - have been phenomenally succesful missions and have far exceeded their planned lifetime. The results so far will provide information for geologists and planetary scientists with many, many years of study already - and the missions look like they could 'drive-and-drive'.

posted 12-17-2005 12:05 PM            

Several obstacles in the way though before they reach Victoria's rim and that is whether they try driving with arm deployed (since a broken wire was diagnosed as reason behind failure earlier), whether the earth based systems are Ok (they had some upload problems due ground kit) and, of course, Martian winter approaches again.

posted 12-17-2005 12:17 PM            

Most of Erebus is filled with sand dunes, so it's not of particular interest... we're focusing on the outcrops.

After Erebus, Opportunity will probably drive on towards Victoria."

posted 02-26-2006 06:31 AM            

Similar layers on Earth are normally attributed to successive water depositing.

posted 02-26-2006 09:28 AM               

The bedding almost looks like liquid current deposits due to the size or thickness of the deposit of each sedimentary layer. There is even some slumping in the middle of the deposit that might indicate current action or at least the existance of liquid at the site that caused those layer to collapse together.

Now if we could get a sample of that rock to bring back to Earth. I wonder what that sample would tell us in the lab. Jeez, we ought to send somebody there.

posted 02-27-2006 10:17 AM            

It could of course be successive volcanic 'ash' depositions but, somehow, these look more like sedimentation deposits?
Closer examination by the onboard science toolkit of Opportunity would help decide.

Not sure how close they will get with Opportunity but I would be interested to know the 'depth' of some of the layers.

I 'enlarged' image and tried count how many layers could be seen and I reckon its approaching 80 layers +/- 20 either way!!

Phill
spaceuk

posted 02-27-2006 12:21 PM               

I agree that volcanic ash could be an answer. Also it is only one picture.

It is in the bottom of a crater which would allow for moisture. Also when I look toward the middle of the formation I see a slight anglularity and settling that to me indicates the potential for water that caused the settling.

I need to look at a map for evidence of local volcanic action in the past. So you are right, there are more solutions to this question. It's just so neat to see such an example of sedimentary stratification on another planet that I just want to make the jump to a river bed, but I have to remember to think Mars and not Earth bound geology.

Wish the toolkit had a coring drill. Will have to ask the boys at Honeybee to move in get a good look.

posted 02-28-2006 10:57 AM            

JPL reckon layers are about 1-2mm thick but cannot be sure without using MI.

They were debating whether to 'linger' for a day or so examing this arrea but they may not hang around this location for long as they want to push on to Victoria crater before martian winter really takes hold.

Couple more images on Opportunity page of these layers from - I think - a slightly closer viewpoint.Also, part of MER is showing so might be able use as 'rough ruler guide'?

Like you, the layering seems to have had some liquid (water?) mechanism involved.

Its all good stuff - whatever created this scene.

Phill
spaceuk

posted 03-18-2006 09:36 AM               

On Spirit's 779th sol, or Martian day (March 13, 2006), the drive actuator on the right front wheel stalled during a turn to adjust the position of the rover's antennas...

Further analysis is needed to determine what caused the right front actuator to stop working. Meanwhile, the operations team has successfully commanded Spirit to drive using only 5 wheels. Engineers plan to have Spirit continue driving backward with five healthy wheels while dragging the right front wheel.