Duck Bay will be the entry point according to Squyres, From Planetary Society Options

[Guest_Bobby_*]

According to Steve Squyres from The Planetary Society Web Site. Opportunity will enter Duck Bay after taking a toe dip into Valley Without Peril's for some quick imaging. She will first investigate The Dark Streak then head back to The Valley Without Peril for Possible first entry (teaser entry) then onto the main event at Duck Bay.

Discussion regarding this entry Point can start here

[dilo]

I'm a little disappointed by the decision to eventually enter the Duck Bay.
I was convinced best entry point was in the S/E rim based on slope and illumination but, clearly, I missed other elements like sand coverage or, perhaps, time. In fact, SS underlined how is important to have a 6-wheel, healty rover to explore VC interior and we aren't sure about Oppy conditions six months from now.
I only hope this statement will not become an epitaph if Oppy loose one or more wheel functionalities while inside crater... I really want to finish Victoria circumnavigation!

[Tesheiner]

Well, it makes sense to enter at Duck Bay.
The goal is not to enter the crater but to investigate the rock outcrops at the walls I suppose... and the biggest ones are near Duck Bay.

I take these words from the MER update: "Things are about to get really interesting."

[centsworth_II]

The goal is not to enter the crater but to investigate the rock outcrops at the walls I suppose...

And I've always thought that the layers of the wall outcrops at Duck Bay looked easy to get
up close to, unlike some we've been seeing lately.

[BrianL]

Well, it makes sense to enter at Duck Bay.
The goal is not to enter the crater but to investigate the rock outcrops at the walls I suppose... and the biggest ones are near Duck Bay.

Not to mention the dead lizard.

Brian

[MarsIsImportant]

I agree. Duck bay is the easiest entry for Oppy to reach a cliff. Now that it is later in the season illumination is not a serious problem at Duck Bay--it would have been, if they took it down that bay earlier. I also think Oppy can get out of Duck bay the same way it goes in. Again, Oppy can always do another toe dip somewhere else later, if it gets out of the crater. After ingress and egress, Oppy can continue circumnavigating Victoria counter-clockwise. There are some important cliffs on the south side of the crater too!

There is so much to do at Victoria! Let's complete the study of this northern area first. We'll worry about the rest later.

1219 still looks good for ingress! It will simply be a different bay than I expected. The time and distances still work out approximately the same.

[Shaka]

Okay, I guess the Final Decision is imminent. So is there any real advantage to Valley Without Peril over Duck Bay? (Apart from being here and now, rather than a couple of weeks travelling away?). Have we ever seen strata deeper than those at Duck Bay? If not, then presumably will will join the Ducks on a track something like this:

Or has someone got a better plan?

[CosmicRocker]

It seems that the final decision has been made, unless there is some new revelation between now and when they get back to Duck Bay. I think deeper strata have been seen, but the most accessible bedrock so far is that section observed in Duck Bay.

There is room for debate, but this truly is a lucky little rover. After arriving in Eagle Crater two strokes under par, the lie of the green after the long drive to Victoria seems to be sloping toward a birdie in Duck Bay.

I'm just guessing, but the people driving this machine must appreciate the fact that they are operating one of two 900 million dollar interplanetary Porsches. One could argue that there is a better boat ramp on the other side, but it may be time to crap, or get off the pot, as some might say.

[dilo]

Hey, Shaka.. I think the red entry path is safer, I wouldn't see again Oppy fighting with a tall dune before to entry...

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Guest_Bobby_*]

AFLAC AFLAC AFLAC

[Shaka]

Hey, amico, you might be right, but have you calculated the slope along the red path?
(This is scientific exploration, not the Olympic Downhill.) So far, nowhere in the Victoria annulus has proven too soft to traverse, so a little dune doesn't cause too many nightmares.
Che sara sara.

O.K. Tom, we'll take it as a given that Steve knows he has to... er... make an expeditious movement.
BTW I've never seen a "900 million dollar Porsche"; I guess it has all the options.

[akuo]

Yes! Go Oppy go!

Duck Bay looked like the best place from the beginning, and I'm glad they are getting there.

[Tesheiner]

So is there any real advantage to Valley Without Peril over Duck Bay?

IMO, one of the advantages of DB is because the rover would almost never be in the shadow when investigating the most accessible outcrops.

[Guest_Edward Schmitz_*]

...then presumably will will join the Ducks on a track something like this:

Or has someone got a better plan?

I would think that they'd go right down the middle of the chute, as long as there is exposed rock. Remember at Endurance. They found much deeper rock than they thought they would find. After a thorough investegation, they would get up close to the cliffs to image them as best they can. The slopes at the base of the cliffs look too steep to me.

ed

[kenny]

Like BrianL, I'd be very keen to get a close-up view of The Lizard and the sub-herpeto block....