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| Figure 1 | Figure 2 |
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit takes a good look around at its
surroundings high above Gusev Crater as mission planners prepare for
solar conjunction on sol 244 (Sept. 9, 2004). On this day, and over the
next 11 days, the rover will be out of reach as the Sun moves between
Earth and Mars, blocking communications. Scientists are currently
discussing potential light-duty assignments that may involve taking
images of surrounding terrain, recording wind patterns in the dust, or
completing scientific analysis of dust collected on the rover's magnets.
Otherwise, Spirit will essentially be on vacation until sol 255 (Sept.
20, 2004).
Dominating the left side of this image, to the east, is the high point of
the "West Spur" region of the "Columbia Hills," where Spirit has been
exploring rock outcrops since June. On the right side, northwest of the
rover's present location, are Spirit's tracks leading up the slope. Dark
areas show wheel tracks created when Spirit slipped a bit while
negotiating the outcrops. Beyond that, sand dunes on the floor of Gusev
Crater can be seen. About one-third of the way across the image from the
right is the outcrop dubbed "Longhorn," above the rock dubbed "Clovis,"
where Spirit used its rock abrasion tool to grind the deepest hole to
date on Mars. Just to the left of the middle of this image, a short
distance beneath the summit, is a rock outcrop slanting to the left, or
north. Spirit will spend the depth of the martian winter there with its
solar panels oriented toward the Sun.
Spirit's navigation camera took the images that make up this mosaic from
a position labeled Site 86 on sols 228 to 230 (Aug. 23 to Aug. 25, 2004).
The three-dimensional, 360-degree view is presented in a
cylindrical-perspective projection with geometrical seam correction.
Figure 1 is the left-eye view of a stereo pair and Figure 2 is the
right-eye view of a stereo pair.
