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Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2012/02/29 10:24 CST
There's no hail or snow or sleet, though it is the depth of winter at Meridiani Planum and a cold unimaginable to us has gripped the landscape.
Pretty picture: A sunset postcard and a special shadow from Opportunity
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/02/21 04:31 CST
It took Don Davis many hours of meticulous labor to assemble this beautiful postcard from Mars.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Celebrates 8, Keeps on Rockin' into Year 9
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2012/01/31 10:24 CST
As Opportunity worked away on its winter science campaign, the Mars Exploration Rover mission quietly completed its eighth Earth year of exploring the surface of the Red Planet last week, and is now roving on into Year 9 of its 90-day mission.
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2012/01/23 05:32 CST
Today Opportunity sent back to Earth the last few frames of the "deck pan" self-portrait she took during the waning days of 2011. Her solar panels are very dusty, which isn't helpful. It's near winter solstice in her southern location on Mars, so the angled Sun is not providing as much power as it would in a different season.
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/12/31 10:24 CST
As New Year's Eve moved from time zone to time zone across planet Earth, the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) team looked to 2012 and wrapping its eighth Earth year of exploring, while up on the Red Planet Opportunity settled into the "saddle" at Greeley Haven preparing for the onslaught of its fifth Martian winter.
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/12/07 10:24 CST
Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has discovered gypsum and its "single most powerful piece of evidence for liquid water on Mars."
Mars Exploration Rovers Update:Opportunity Crunches Homestake, Scouts Locales for Winter
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/11/30 10:24 CST
Opportunity roved toward the end of its eighth year of exploration on the Red Planet and chalking up yet another "exciting" textbook discovery for the Mars mission.
Mars Exploration Family Portrait
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/11/23 12:26 CST | 1 comments
Jason Davis put together this neat summary of the checkered history of Mars exploration.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Heads for New Discovery as Winter Blows In at Cape York
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/10/31 11:24 CDT
Opportunity roved on this month, driving alongside the rim of Endeavour Crater toward the northern end of Cape York in search of more science gold and a place to hunker down for winter.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Digs In at Endeavour Crater, Team Remembers 9/11
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/09/30 11:24 CDT
Since leaving the plains of Meridiani, pulling up to Endeavour Crater and checking out its first rock last month, Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has wasted no time in getting the "new mission" underway.
The latest HiRISE view of Opportunity, on Endeavour's rim
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/09/24 10:19 CDT
The latest HiRISE view of Opportunity, on Endeavour's rim
Mars Exploration Rover Update: Opportunity Finds Martian Mystery at Endeavour Crater
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/09/01 11:24 CDT
More than seven and a half years after landing, Opportunity arrived at its long-anticipated destination, the rim of Endeavour Crater, and in less than three weeks found something strange enough to launch a new Martian mystery.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update:Opportunity Arrives at Endeavour Crater, Mission Begins Anew
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/08/31 11:24 CDT
The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission roves back into the exploration spotlight this month as Opportunity arrives at the rim of Endeavour Crater, a destination that wasn�t even an impossible dream when the rover landed back in January 2004.
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/08/10 02:09 CDT
Opportunity's wheels are on a whole new different kind of rock: she has arrived at the rim of Endeavour crater, on Cape York.
Spirit Point and Odyssey crater in sight, and new rock under Opportunity's wheels
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/08/07 04:26 CDT
Spirit Point and Odyssey crater in sight, and new rock under Opportunity's wheels
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Closes in on Endeavour as Team Bids Farewell to Spirit
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/07/31 11:24 CDT
Opportunity seemed to sail with the wind behind her back toward the western rim of Endeavour Crater this month as the Mars Exploration Rover team shifted gears in preparation for a whole new adventure, taking time out only to bid a final farewell both privately and publicly to Spirit.
Opportunity's horizon rises -- and maybe brings Cape York into view
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2011/07/21 03:12 CDT
Opportunity's horizon rises -- and maybe brings Cape York into view
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Roves Back into Record Books, Spirit is Honored
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/06/30 12:00 CDT
Opportunity 'burned up' the Meridiani Plains in June as it raced toward its much-anticipated next destination and the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission cruised into the 90th month of what was originally to have been a 90-day tour.
In Memory of Spirit, and Why Cuteness Matters
Posted by Melissa Rice on 2011/06/15 02:21 CDT
An analysis of "cuteness", and why it matters when talking about science.
Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Spirit Mission Declared Over, Opportunity Roves Closer to Endeavour
Posted by A.J.S. Rayl on 2011/05/31 12:00 CDT
The Mars Exploration mission suffered the loss of Spirit and shifted to one-rover operations in May, but Opportunity carried on, blasting across the plains of Meridiani to within 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) of its next major destination and discovery.
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