Is this the eastward turn we've all been waiting for?

Written by
Emily Lakdawalla
May 27, 2010
As I discussed on Monday, Opportunity is in the middle of a lengthy trek toward a crater named Endeavour and its tantalizing upraised smectite-bearing rim. From Victoria crater, Endeavour lay to the southeast. Yet, since departing Victoria, Opportunity has been heading not southeast, but determinedly south, even west of south. Here's a view from Google Mars:

When, oh when, rover fans have been asking, will Opportunity finally turn east toward Endeavour?
Well, it may finally have happened! Maybe. Here's Eduardo Tesheiner's route map as of sol 2,252. The last sol's drive is definitely headed toward the east. Will the drives keep going east? Will sol 2,252 mark a turning point in Opportunity's trek to Endeavour? I don't know! The only way to find out is to keep watching!

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