Opportunity Route Map Options

[elakdawalla]

Great idea! One typo -- you credit someone named Time Parker

--Emily

[jamescanvin]

So I did - fixed.

Thanks Emily.

[Greg Hullender]

Thanks, James. I was hoping someone would do that. The local maps are great, but on the long trek, it's really nice to see the big picture from time to time.

--Greg

[Tesheiner]

Good idea James, specially the one with the ripple map.

> The local maps are great, but on the long trek, it's really nice to see the big picture from time to time.
Local maps ... big picture ...
Now, whould you imagine telling that to the MER team during the nominal mission?

[Tesheiner]

Here we go with another map update: Sol 1803.

 Route_Map_Sol1803.kml ( 12.34K ) Number of downloads: 532

[Tesheiner]

Sol1806: Another 60m to the odometer.

 Route_Map_Sol1806.kml ( 12.68K ) Number of downloads: 575

[Dig]

Hello to all, although I read the forum for some time had never written before.

Tesheiner, the layer of your Route Map for Google Earth must be downloaded each time or if I keep the layer will be updated automatically?

In Google Earth, the Mars view has a layer with the path of the Opportunity, which has differences with yours. Why are these differences?

Greetings

[djellison]

The one that works via Google is less accurate than Eduardo's. It's also updated less often. I would trust Eduardo's over everything apart from JPL et.al.

[Tesheiner]

Welcome to UMSF, Dig.

> Tesheiner, the layer of your Route Map for Google Earth must be downloaded each time or if I keep the layer will be updated automatically?

You should download it every time you see an update here.

> In Google Earth, the Mars view has a layer with the path of the Opportunity, which has differences with yours. Why are these differences?

Good question. First of all, I presume you are talking about the different (x,y) positions for a given site in both paths. IMO the difference is probably due to a different translation from (x,y) coordinates to lat/long.
I'm keeping track of the route on a map-projected picture (HiRISE image PSP_009141_1780 in the route map you see here in JPG format) and the process to plot a position on that picture is in a way manual and results in (x,y) coordinates which are good for that image. Now, I'm creating the KML layer for GE automatically using a VB tool and converting the (x,y) into latitude / longitude using fairly simple interpolation. Besides, the HiRISE image you see in GE is not exactly the same I use in the route map. The end result is that these lat/long coordinates may have an error and/or they don't match the same point in both pictures, the one in my route map and the one used by GE.
In any case, this difference is only significant with big zoom factors.

Edit: Well, there are other differences too. One was noted by Doug and is because the path "embedded" in GE is updated only up to "Santorini". Another difference is that they are considering only the driving endpoints while my version sometimes use mid-drive points between two consecutive sites.

[Tesheiner]

I think it's time to post the "big picture" again. Map updated up to sol 1813.

 Route_Map_Sol1813.kml ( 12.91K ) Number of downloads: 498

[MahFL]

When o when will we head SE ?
Does anyone know what the offcial route is ?

Thanks.

[centsworth_II]

Does anyone know what the offcial route is ?

I guess this is as official as it gets right now.
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&p=136998

[Floyd]

Seems like someone (official or here at UMSF) suggested that Porcupine rim is the next stop?

[MahFL]

Well they must have great faith that Oppy will be able to drive forever...to add all those extra Km to avoid the bigger dunes. I am sure Steve never mentioned this when they first decided to head for Endeavour.

[Tesheiner]

Map update corresponding to sol 1816. We might be reaching the 15km mark in a few (two?) driving sols.