PIA05596: Savoring Neopolitan


Savoring Neopolitan

Caption:

figure 1 for PIA05596
Figure 1

This image from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's front hazard-avoidance camera shows the rover at its Sol 53 (March 17, 2004) location within the "Eagle Crater" landing site. Dubbed "Neopolitan," this location has three different soil patches: a very light unit, a dark unit, and an airbag bounce mark. Scientists are imaging each of these units as part of a crater soil survey. They hope to better understand the origin of the soils they see in the crater and the relationship of the soils to the rocks in Opportunity ledge. This image was taken on sol 52 of Opportunity's journey (March 16, 2004).

The Ice Cream Trio
In Figure 1 above, the light soil unit, seen on the left, is a microscopic imager target dubbed "Vanilla." The dark soil unit on the right is a target dubbed "Cookies 'n' Cream.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Instrument Host Opportunity (MER-B)
Host Type Rover
Instrument Hazard Camera (Hazcam)
Detector
Extra Keywords Crater, Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2004-03-19
Date in Caption 2004-03-16 2004-03-17
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Washington University (St. Louis)
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05596
Identifier PIA05596