Spirit's specular reflection

Filed under pretty pictures, pics of spacecraft in space, Mars, Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

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When HiRISE took a photo of Spirit's resting spot in Gusev crater on March 31, 2011, it happened to be in exactly the right position to catch a specular reflection (a glint) from the rover's solar panels. Apart from being pretty, it signifies that there was not a thick coating of dust on the panels.

NASA / JPL / UA

Original image data dated on or about March 31, 2011