Planetary Society logo
  • “Exploration is in our nature.” - Carl Sagan

Larry Crumpler • Jan 22, 2015

Field Report from Mars: Sol 3902 - January 15, 2015

Opportunity just finished up the super crater overview panorama, pulled away from the summit (here at -1380 m) and we are on our way to Marathon Valley! It's all downhill (about 70 m down in elevation) from here.

Opportunity's recent drives up to sol 3902
Opportunity's recent drives up to sol 3902 Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech / U. Arizona / NMMNH / Larry Crumpler

Above is a map showing the drive and 1 m contours. Note the small impact crater a few meters to the SW, visible in the Navcam mosaic posted below.

Opportunity Navcam mosaic, sol 3902 end-of-drive
Opportunity Navcam mosaic, sol 3902 end-of-drive Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech

The impact crater is visible on the right in the Navcam mosaic above, taken at the end of the drive on sol 3902. Above 40 m out the terrain rolls over so that the rest of the slope downhill is out of view. But in the distance at about -4.5/165 you can make out the north slope of Marathon Valley where we are headed. We are a little under 500 m from the valley now.

Exploration Changes Everything

Keep space science going strong. Take action for space and make your voice heard by telling elected officials to make space a priority.

Take Action