Tesheiner, I read about the 10K mark, and was hoping that you had updated the route map to show the excursion that put us over the mark -- and you didn't disappoint!
By the way, I'm thinking that Oppy's getting ready to head back to Duck Bay, which looks like the past entry path, plus nice vertical cliffs to examine on the way in . . .
Of course I meant best entry path . . .
Maybe they're heading for that crater on the annulus with the pale east rim, then on to the first dark streak? Clealry, they are mssing out Cabo Corrientes. From the area where the first streak meets the rim of Victoria, they'd get a good view of the boulder field inside the crater, the biggest and best collection of tumbled-down rock anywhere inside Victoria. They come from the beds of the layered cape above it (Cape D 1). My guess is they'd like to use those boulders to sample different layers of the strata in the crater wall.
Kenny
Tesheiner, I'm sure you're right about the clues given by the imaging instructions. But I can't understand why they went so far away from the rim to the 1080 position, only to turn around and double back in again, when there's nothing that requires such a big avoidance maneuver. The route from 1078 to 1080 is at an azimuth of about 50 degrees, whereas something about 80 degrees would have taken Oppy much more quickly and efficiently towards Cabo Corrientes.... unless they've gone out there to look at something.
K
If you look at the point reached on sol 1066, you can see that it is also further than apparently necessary away from the crater. They are likely searching for a vector to the cape tip that minimizes the chance of falling off an edge. It may be because they are testing auto-navigation and want to give the computer a margin of safety.
Whether the rover goes 20, 30 or 40m on a drive, it can still easily complete it in the time required by the plan so it probably doesn't matter a whole lot (unless you are counting wheel revs) how far they drive.
.
> I love how you've got your projected path taking us right onto Hoy, Tesheiner!
We can dream, can't we?
Imaging info from yestersol move (1082) already made their way to the PCDT web, but the exploratorium have no new pics yet. A minor hiccup I would say.
Assuming the mobility data is accurate (and it usually is), this is Opportunity's new position:
Looking at the 1082 position, we couldn't really fault Tesh's prediction, could we !!??
A look in the drive direction on Sol 1080.
Taken with the L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
On sol 1082 Oppy took a curious looking Phobos eclipse sequence - the movement of Phobos looks odd, almost as if it changes direction! I think what happened was the sun was slightly overexposed (notice also how the sun is slightly elongated), and somehow that caused the weird apparent motion. Local time was around 14:25, frames are 3 seconds apart.
The view in the drive direction ( crater rim ) on Sol 1082.
Taken with th L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
There are lots of rocks scattered around on the surface--more rocks from space?
Another mini martian "strewn field" of fallen star stones for meteorite collectors here on Earth to drool over...
Sol1084, colorized stitch of 3 NavCam frames...
Have we driven onto a "ray" or a streak? The ground seems very dark suddenly...
Not that I'm aware of. Perhaps this image was taken late in the evening?
On another topic, 1087 is a driving sol.
Curiously, the imaging plan includes a sequence (front_hazcam_wheel_sub_256x256_4_bpp_pri_19) which was *only* used before in three events: stuck at Purgatory, stuck at northern Erebus, and stuck at Jammerbugt.
No, I'm not saying the rover is stuck. It might be related to the new driving technics.
They've found a way for Oppy to turn in place.
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2007-02-12/1N224416435EDN79K9F0006L0M1.JPG
Dangerous games to play next to a cliff! Fortunately Oppy doesn't have a sense of balance or direction like us petty humans
Have the JPL seen Richard Long walks in the desert? Richard Long is a Land-Art artist who draw geometrical figure in deserts with his feets, rocks or many material found in the desert. Details : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Long_%28artist%29
Oh man!
If a drive some days ago was called the "drunken sailor walk", how would you call this?
Compared to the drunken wobbling, I call this ballet. I'm wondering, might this be a method to create a large, distinguishable track feature that could be recognized by the software for a greater distance? That might allow sober walking for some distance afterward.
Whatever purpose it has, they did it again.
Sol 1087 which is almost finished was another driving day and the "post-drive" http://nasa.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/rear_hazcam/2007-02-13/1R224682608EFF79O3P1312L0M1.JPG show that same zig-zag pattern.
Edited: Short drive; less then 4m. At this pace we won't be at Hoy neither "hoy" nor "mañana" (that's for you Climber).
Ok, I think I have the right name for that funny manouver.
"Dog tail chasing".
Considering that the feature is captured in the downsampled Navcam navigation images, I'd say it's an extra good guess it's used for navigation.
Possible Wheel Problem with OPPY? I hope not
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/forward_hazcam/2007-02-14/1F224681502ESF79MWP1244L0M1.JPG
Whoa! back up he truck. this is what, as kids, we would call "doing donuts" after a rain, we'd go out on a grass soccer field and vandaliciously spin the car around with the accelerator gunned and the steering wheel pegged (no, we never got caught, darn kids!).
click attached thumbnail to see the animation
Good to hear that you had a normal childhood, atomoid. I didn't learn to cut donuts until I "grew up." But I think they are more fun to do on dusty ground.
Maybe they're messing up the dirt to create a spot for HiRise to observe over time as the winds cause it to evolve?
The panoramic view on Sol 1089.
Taken with the L0 Navcam.
jvandriel
And this is Opportunity's approximate position as viewed from Cape Desire.
Where did I put that swear box??!?!?!?!
The panoramic view looking back on Sol 1091.
Taken with the L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
It looks like the puzzling driving as seen around Sol 1078 - 1082 may have been due to the live testing of the Field D* autonav software:
http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2007/February/feb13_rovers.shtml
Just added 1 image.
The L0 Navcam view on Sol 1089 and Sol 1092.
jvandriel
Hello all, I'm a n b to UnmannedSpaceflight. A geological beginner's question about the L2 pancam image from Sol1091: Is the prominent ridge creating the shadow considered to be the point-of-impact when the crater was formed in the first place? To what extent has the surface-level diameter of the crater expanded over eons?
Del Palmer: Cool.
Interesting little rock at the right side of this image. It appears dark in this filter, but light in the other 2.
http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/p/1092/1P225125035EFF79QCP2577L2M1.HTML
Opportunity moved on sol 1094 a few meters to a new location. New pics at the exploratorium.
We can clearly see "Hoy" in this navcam image: http://nasa.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportunity/navcam/2007-02-21/1N225305789EFF79R1P0655L0M1.JPG
Roving, roving, roving...
Our little friend moved to almost the other side of the cape few hours ago during sol 1095 and took this 180º navcam mosaic looking north. Bahia Blanca is to the left (west) and cape/bay C3 to the right (east).
Brellis
I'll attempt to provide an answer to your questions. Others may correct me. The initial point of impact of the bolide that formed Victoria crater would have been destroyed in the explosion generated by the impact. The ridge that is visible in the middle background of the sol 1091 panorama has been called "the dock" in this forum and "Guam" by the follks at NASA. As far as I know, there has been no 'official' statement of it's origin.
The scalloped nature of Victoria's perimeter strongly suggests that some erosion has taken place since it's formation. How much erosion has occurred has been the subject of some debate.
The view in the drive direction on Sol 1094.
Taken with the L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
Opportunity looking back on Sol 1095.
Taken with the L0 Navcam.
jvandriel
Selfportrait of Opportunity on Sol 1096.
Taken with the Front Hazcam.
jvandriel
Nice shot! Thanks for posting it.
The view in the drive direction on Sol 1096.
Taken with the L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
Nice local noon shadows and great colour!
While waiting for some fresh images --today's downlink was a bit sparse-- just say that Opportunity has started its sol 1100.
Tesheiner: "...a bit sparse..." That is such a nicely diplomatic way to say it. There are so many fascinating images waiting in the queue, especially pancams, that I am dying to see. Among those are the Ralls of Madrid and Alava, and...Oh heck, I'll just continue to wait unless someone has a better suggestion. I think praising the 1100th sol is a good reason to celebrate.
The view looking down on Sol 1094.
Taken with the L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
I wasn't up to starting a new thread, but this is past Bahia Blanca. The hoped for pancams are not yet down, but the Sol 1100 look back is one of the best ever. Here is my interpretation of this panorama.
STUNNING, Cosmic Rocker, thanks! A great way to start the day... even if I do have to head out to work in 20 mins...
Best shot of Victoria from the ground yet Cosmic Rocker.
More capes than a Batman convention.
Roy F
While looking at the images from sol 1100 I found that they tested what is called VTT (Visual Target Tracking, one of the new software capabilities) during the drive in that sol. There are some references about VTT on the net, including this one on the http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_opportunityAll_2006.html#sol968:
Ahh, I was wondering why they were focussing on those rocks. (It's the geologist in me). Thanks for the explanation.
Tosol (1102) imaging plan includes this sequence:
01102::p2379::10::12::0::0::12::2::26::pancam_cape_good_hope_pt1_3x1_L257R2
Part #1? Are we seeing the first part of a 180º color mosaic? I hope so.
> Part #1? Are we seeing the first part of a 180º color mosaic? I hope so.
Disregard it.
Opportunity is planned to move today (sol 1103). And given the heading (216º) of the post-drive navcam mosaic my take is that the rover will drive towards the lump to take shots of this side of Cabo Corrientes.
Sol 1102 micro imager pics out of focus...
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/opportunity_m1102.html
Here is my version of the
Sol 1100 R2 Pancam view.
jvandriel
Wow. Just wow. Thanks for posting that Pando.
Wow, that VTT looks quite impressive.
I wonder how much of this new programming will be adapted for use in the MSL, or even upgraded?
Those rovers are so much smarter than when they launched. Target tracking, ability to find dust devils, and reasonably accurate 5-wheel driving capabilities.
Good animation, Pando!
And the filename too: http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4994/littlestonehengero3.gif
Wowowow!!!
By the way this babies evolve I only expect to see them building a house and having small rovers...
They're both girls!!!
Ha!
I'm tempted to make further societal comments, but I'll refrain.
Are The Rovers Male or Female???
Would they give birth to a little Ustrax???
Only if they go to an abyss together...
Wondering if a big HUG would be enough...
Here is the complete Panoramic view of Victoria Crater.
Taken with the L0 Navcam on Sol 1103.
jvandriel
Looking back on Sol 1104.
Taken with the L0 Navcam.
jvandriel
Bit of a jumble, all right. Wonder if this is the side of the rim that catches the prevailing winds? Might accelerate erosion locally.
Just a "bump" to this thread...
Yestersol (1106) was time to take a 12pos (6x2?) B&W mosaic of Cabo Corrientes.
Today is a driving sol (images expected in an hour or two) and tomorrow another mosaic fromof Cabo Corrientes, this time in color.
Yup. Thanks!
New update at the MER website.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status_opportunityAll.html#sol1097
It's fun to guess about WHEN we're going in -- but (as I sure has already been noted), this will be dictated by WHERE we go in. My money is on Duck Bay, which by coincidence was our arrival point at Vicky. Gradual slope, and steep cliffs on the left to probe on the way down. In other words, Steve is not going to look this gift horse in the mouth, or tempt the fates. A flat out drive back of what -- 20-30 sols? (But! I have not considered sun angle on Oppy if we went in there . . .)
We are way past Bahia Blanca and Cabo Corrientes so I think it's time to open a new thread.
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=4002&hl=
Here is the panoramic view taken on Sol 1096
with the L2 Pancam.
jvandriel
I've update the Bahia Blanca view of the Sol 1095 :
http://astrosurf.com/merimages/Images_opportunity-2007.html#Sol1095
We received the rest of the sol 1102 look back at the upper lump and Cabo Corrientes in color. It is a nice view. There was a hole in the L2 of the middle frame, which I imperfectly patched. The topographic changes looking back make for a dramatic image. I think the view might even be better from the current location. I haven't checked, but is there another color panorama in this direction in the works?
> ... is there another color panorama in this direction in the works?
These two:
01104::p2381::10::36::0::0::36::2::74::pancam_good_hope_postcard_L456
01108::p2384::10::36::12::0::24::2::74::pancam_cabo_corrientes_longbaseline_9pos
L257R2
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