The Plains of Mars

Opportunity took this picture of the plains of Meridiani Planum on sol 32, February 25, 
2004. This color mosaic of parts of two panoramic camera images spans 20 degrees of the 
horizon.  It was taken while Opportunity was parked at the north end of the outcrop, in front 
of El Capitan, looking east.

The features seen at the horizon are the near and far rims of the largest crater within about 6 
kilometers (about 4 miles) of the lander.  The name of the large crater is Endurance.  Using 
orbital data from the Mars Orbiter Camera on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, 
scientists measured the large crater as 160 meters (175 yards) in diameter, at a distance of 
720 meters (about half a mile) from the lander. 

The highest point visible in the distant large crater is the highest point on the far wall of the 
crater; the sun is illuminating the inside of the far wall. 

Between the location where the image was taken at El Capitan and the crater on the horizon, 
Endurance, are the flat, smooth Meridiani plains, that scientists believe are covered in 
hematite material.  The dark horizontal feature near the bottom of the picture is a small (5-
meter or 16-foot diameter) crater only 50 meters (164 feet) from Opportunity's present 
position.

When the rover leaves the crater some 2-3 weeks from now, the large crater on the horizon 
is one of several potential destinations.

The accompanying orbital picture, taken by Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera, 
shows the location of both the crater in which Opportunity landed and the large horizon 
crater at the top.  The large crater at the top of the picture is Endurance, the horizon crater 
seen on the horizon in the Opportunity image.  Opportunity landed in the smaller crater at 
the bottom center of the picture.  The small bright dot in the center of the small crater is the 
lander.  The black dot to the right of the large crater is where the heat shield struck the 
ground.


Image Credit:  NASA/JPL/Cornell/MSSS

APPROVED BY:  Larry Soderblom, SOWG chair, Steve Squyres, Jim Bell for Pancam, 
and Mike Malin 

CAPTION WRITER:  Christine Johnson 818/667-7853 cell

RELEASE DATE:  February 27, 2004

IMAGE FILE NAME: xpe_Oppty_plains.jpg and xpe_moc_image.jpg

SOURCE FILE NAME(S): sol 32 P2389 sequence and Malin MOC image

SUMMARY INFORMATION:  Panoramic camera of plains

NAME OF SUBMITTER: Mike Malin

INSTITUTION:  Malin Space Science Systems

THEME/TEAM/GROUP:  Geology

SOL OF OBSERVATION:  33

EARTH DATE OF OBSERVATION:  February 26, 2004

TITLE OF IMAGE: Plains of Mars (and) Orbital View Plains of Mars

CAPTION:  Above
<br> USERNAME: cjohns