HPPR hosts & contributors Mon July 9, 2012 PHOTO: A New
Panoramic View Of Mars NASA has released a new, stunning
panoramic image of Mars. The scene is stitched from 817 images
taken by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity from Dec.
2011 to May. To do the image justice, you have to download the
hi-resolution version, but be warned it's close to 14 MB.
"Bright wind-blown deposits on the left are banked up against
the Greeley Haven outcrop. Opportunity's tracks can be seen
extending from the south, with a turn-in-place and other
maneuvers evident from activities to position the rover at
Greeley Haven. The tracks in some locations have exposed darker
underlying soils by disturbing a thin, bright dust cover. "Other
bright, dusty deposits can be seen to the north, northeast, and
east of Greeley Haven. The deposit at the center of the image,
due north from the rover's winter location, is a dusty patch
called 'North Pole.' Opportunity drove to it and investigated it
in May 2012 as an example of wind-blown Martia