Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
False-Color View of a 'Rat' Hole Trail
Original Caption Released with Image:
This view from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's panoramic camera is a false-color composite rendering of the first seven holes that the rover's rock abrasion tool dug on the inner slope of "Endurance Crater." The rover was about 12 meters (about 39 feet) down into the crater when it acquired the images combined into this mosaic. The view is looking back toward the rim of the crater, with the rover's tracks visible. The tailings around the holes drilled by the rock abrasion tool, or "Rat," show evidence for fine-grained red hematite similar to what was observed months earlier in "Eagle Crater" outcrop holes.

Last week, viewers were asked to try seeing as many holes as they could from a black-and-white, navigation-camera image (PIA06716). Most viewers will find it far easier to see the seven holes in this exaggerated color image; the same is true for scientists who are studying the holes from millions of miles away.

Starting from the uppermost pictured (closest to the crater rim) to the lowest, the rock abrasion tool hole targets are called "Tennessee," "Cobblehill," "Virginia," "London," "Grindstone," "Kettlestone," and "Drammensfjorden." Opportunity drilled these holes on sols 138 (June 13, 2004), 143 (June 18), 145 (June 20), 148 (June 23), 151 (June 26), 153 (June 28) and 161 (July 7), respectively. Each hole is 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) in diameter.

This image was generated using the panoramic camera's 750-, 530-, and 430-nanometer filters. It was taken on sol 173 (July 19).
Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/Cornell
Produced By:
Cornell University
Mission:
Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Spacecraft:
Opportunity
Target Name:
Mars
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
Panoramic Camera
Product Size:
1429 samples x 2113 lines
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Crater
facet_what:
Mars
facet_what:
Opportunity
facet_what:
Panoramic Camera
facet_what:
Rock Abrasion Tool
facet_what:
RAT
facet_what:
Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
facet_where:
Mars
facet_where:
London
facet_where:
Tennessee
facet_where:
Virginia
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_when:
June 13, 2004
facet_when_year:
2004
Image #:
PIA06727
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA06727
orignial url:

False-Color View of a 'Rat' Hole Trail