Wheel tracks

Emily Lakdawalla

Written by Emily Lakdawalla
October 18, 2007

The Mars Exploration Rovers have left wheel tracks all over their landing sites, but for some reason this pair of wheel tracks, left in the sand ripple on the rim of Victoria crater and now viewed from below, tickled my fancy. Thanks to James Canvin for the lovely panorama. Rover panoramas -- especially Opportunity's -- now have a softened, atmospheric quality because of the dust that has been deposited on their camera windows. It's kind of pretty but I'll bet it's driving the scientists bonkers.

Opportunity looks upward to 'Paolo's Plunge'
Opportunity looks upward to 'Paolo's Plunge' On sol 1299, Opportunity looked backward up the slope of "Paolo's Plunge" to the sand ripple that marks the rim of Victoria crater. Opportunity's entry into the crater dug two tracks into the sand ripple.Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Cornell / James Canvin

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