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> Mars: McMurdo panorama-Spirit 10-2006

Mars: McMurdo panorama-Spirit 10-2006

author: Nasa/JPL/Cornell/Novapix

reference: a-mar08-00250

Image Size 300 DPI: 189 * 48 cm

This 360-degree view, called the "McMurdo" panorama, comes from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. From April through October 2006, Spirit has stayed on a small hill known as "Low Ridge." There, the rover's solar panels are tilted toward the sun to maintain enough solar power for Spirit to keep making scientific observations throughout the winter on southern Mars. This view of the surroundings from Spirit's "Winter Haven" is presented in approximately true color. Many dark, porous-textured volcanic rocks can be seen around the rover, including many on Low Ridge. Two rocks to the right of center, brighter and smoother-looking in this image and more reflective in infrared observations by Spirit's miniature thermal emission spectrometer, are thought to be meteorites.

Keywords for this photo:

2006 - ASTRONOMY - COLUMBIA HILL - GUSEV - HILL - LANDSCAPE - MARS - MARS EXPLORATION ROVER - MARTIAN SURFACE - MCMURDO - PANORAMA - PLANET - POSTER - ROCK - SOIL - SPIRIT -