This 3-D image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity rover shows an extreme close-up of round, blueberry-shaped grains on the crater floor near the rock outcrop at Meridiani Planum called Stone Mountain. Scientists are studying these curious formations for clues about the soil's history. The observed area is 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) across.
Name | Value | Additional Values |
---|---|---|
Target | Mars | |
System | ||
Target Type | Planet | |
Mission | Mars Exploration Rover (MER) | |
Instrument Host | Opportunity (MER-B) | |
Host Type | Rover | |
Instrument | Microscopic Imager (MI) | |
Detector | ||
Extra Keywords | Color, Crater, Mountain | |
Acquisition Date | ||
Release Date | 2004-02-13 | |
Date in Caption | ||
Image Credit | NASA/JPL/Cornell/USGS | |
Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05286 | |
Identifier | PIA05286 |