images

Mars : Victoria Crater at Meridiani Planum

by

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona/Novapix

Reference

a-mar11-00025

Date

2007-12-29

Victoria Crater, about 800 meters (one-half mile) in diameter, has been home ground for NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity for more 14 of the rover's first 46 months on Mars. Opportunity first reached the crater's rim on Sept. 27, 2006, during the 951st Martian day, or sol, of the rover's work in the Meridian Planum region of Mars. The rover then explored clockwise about one-fourth of the way around the rim before returning to a point close to its first overlook. On the mission's 1,293rd sol (Sept. 13, 2007), Opportunity began a sustained exploration of the interior of the crater, entering at an alcove called "Duck Bay" on the western side of Victoria. Image obtained from the HIRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance orbiter.